Women, sport and social inclusion in Saudi Arabia

Globally, women lag behind men in sports participation and physical activity, a phenomenon that is also evident in Saudi Arabia. Recently, the Saudi government has invested significantly in sports and health through its Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to strengthen the Kingdom's presence in sports, public health, entertainment and tourism. This is evident in the hosting of major sporting events and the transformation of the national physical activity infrastructure. To date, little research has explored developments in women's sport in Saudi Arabia. In response to this gap, this study investigates socio-cultural factors influencing Saudi women's participation in sport and physical activity through critical adaptation and application of the analytical concept of social inclusion. Over the span of 10 months of fieldwork, data were collected through participatory observations and 12 individual interviews with officials, managers and stakeholders in the Saudi sports sector with a particular focus on football. Data analysis revealed three key socio-cultural themes shaping women's participation in sport. First, pioneering women leaders have fostered a strong sense of ownership, organic development and community involvement. Second, the promotion of national socialisation, heritage and nationalism in Saudi women's sport is perceived as balancing traditional customs and national pride. Thirdly, the growing recognition of sport as a tool for empowerment in Saudi Arabia highlights the importance of family involvement, career development and increasing female participation in technical roles. This research seeks to contribute to the literature on women's participation in sports in Saudi Arabia, gender dynamics in the context of transformative social change and social inclusion theory.