Redefining the Global Football Landscape: Saudi Arabia's Transformative Journey in Action
Riyadh – 10th & 11th December 2025
World Football Summit is a premier event in Riyadh, bringing together football industry leaders to shape the future of the sport.
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World Football Summit Riyadh key figures
It’s time to equalize the potential of the industry in the region to the passion for football it holds.
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Past speakers at WFS Riyadh
Past speakers at
WFS Riyadh
Reem
Abdullah
CEO of women football – Alshabab football Club
Reem
Abdullah
HRH Princess Reem Bint Abdullah is a leading advocate for youth and sports in Saudi Arabia. She founded the first girls’ football academy, helped launch the women’s national team, and leads women’s football at Al Shabab FC. Internationally, she holds key roles at United World Group and Sheffield United. She pioneered #SportsForDevelopment, impacting 300+ youth in Iraq through sports and entrepreneurship.
Adwa
Al Arifi
Assistant Minister for Sport Affairs
Adwa
Al Arifi
For more than 15 years, Adwa has led dozens of initiatives to help drive and develop the sport sector as well as playing a key role in mass participation across the Kingdom. Her early work included helping to establish the Kingdom’s first women’s football team in 2007 and founding the Riyadh Women’s Football League in 2008. Her continued to support the growth of football becoming the first ever female board member of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in 2019.
Hammad
Albalawi
Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup™ 2034 bid unit at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation – Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Hammad
Albalawi
Hammad Albalawi leads Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 bid, aiming to host the first 48-team tournament in a single nation under the slogan “Growing. Together.” Previously, he was Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Planning & Investment at the Ministry of Sport, overseeing the National Sports and Football Strategies. He also led the privatization of state-owned sports assets, boosting investment appeal and managing IP projects like the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
H.E. Bader
Alkadi
Vice Minister of Sport
H.E. Bader
Alkadi
His Excellency Mr. Bader bin Abdulrahman Alkadi holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the College of Business at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, specializing in Financial Management, and a master’s degree in Sports Management and Entertainment from ISDE University in Spain. He began his professional career 20 years ago at HSBC Bank in London, then returned to the Kingdom and transitioned to the trade and retail sector, where he worked for 10 years at Procter & Gamble.
Lamia
Bahaian
Vice President – Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Lamia
Bahaian
Lamia Bahaian is the first female Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). A pioneer of Saudi women’s football who has been involved in the game for over 15 years, she also supervises the SAFF Women’s Football Department.
Lamia has been a board member at SAFF since 2021, and also sits on the Saudi Pro League (SPL) board. She is Head of the West Asian Football Federation’s (WAFF) Women’s Committee and a member of its Executive Committee. In addition, she is a member of the Women’s Football Com
Esteve
Calzada
CEO – Al Hilal
Esteve
Calzada
Experience in Sports & Entertainment and in football clubs advisory, management and ownership roles (FC Barcelona, City Football Group, Prime Time Sport). International Marketing and Business Development in several FMCG companies (Reckitt Benckiser, Sara Lee, Unilever). Author of the sports marketing book “Show Me The Money”, translated into 5 languages.
Tony
Douglas
Chief Executive Officer – Riyadh Air
Tony
Douglas
Tony Douglas became CEO of Riyadh Air in 2022 to lead Saudi Arabia’s new world-class airline. With decades of experience in aviation, infrastructure, and defense, he previously led Etihad Airways’ transformation and held senior roles at Abu Dhabi Airports, BAA, and the UK Ministry of Defence. Known for building high-performing teams and delivering complex projects, he now oversees Riyadh Air’s strategy and alignment with Vision 2030.
Dato’ Windsor
John
General Secretary – AFC
Dato’ Windsor
John
Widely recognised as an outstanding football administrator, Datuk Seri Windsor John has been the driving force behind the AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s all-encompassing vision to propel Asian football to greater heights.
Mauricio
Macri
President of the FIFA Foundation – FIFA
Mauricio
Macri
Mauricio Macri, former President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019, who also served two terms as Mayor of Buenos Aires and President of Boca Juniors Club on three occasions, is the Executive Chairman at the FIFA Foundation. In his current capacity, Macri is dedicated to leveraging the unifying power of football and the educational opportunities it presents to empower youth, foster positive change, and pave the way for a promising future on a global scale.
Ibrahim
Mohtaseb
Senior Vice President – SELA
Ibrahim
Mohtaseb
Ibrahim Mohtaseb is Senior Vice President at Sela, leading technical and commercial development across Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. He supports business units in concept development, strategy, proposals, and partner relations. He holds a FIFA Master’s in International Sport Management and a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus on marketing.
Omar
Mugharbel
CEO – Saudi Pro League
Omar
Mugharbel
Omar Mugharbel is a dynamic and visionary leader, currently serving as the CEO of the Saudi Pro League (SPL). With a proven track record of driving organizational transformation and operational excellence, Mugharbel is spearheading the SPL’s efforts to transform Saudi Football. His mission centers on creating a sustainable and commercially viable league while preserving the essence of the sport.
Clarence
Seedorf
Ambassador – LEGA SERIE A
Clarence
Seedorf
One of the most talented and complete attacking midfielders in football history, Clarence Seedorf has delighted generationsof fans with his great technique, powerful and precise shot and extraordinary leadership on and off the pitch.He is the only footballer in football history to have won the Champions League with three differentclubs (Ajax 1994-95, Real Madrid 1997-98, AC Milan 2002-03
Reem
Abdullah
CEO of women football – Alshabab football Club
Reem
Abdullah
HRH Princess Reem Bint Abdullah is a leading advocate for youth and sports in Saudi Arabia. She founded the first girls’ football academy, helped launch the women’s national team, and leads women’s football at Al Shabab FC. Internationally, she holds key roles at United World Group and Sheffield United. She pioneered #SportsForDevelopment, impacting 300+ youth in Iraq through sports and entrepreneurship.
Adwa
Al Arifi
Assistant Minister for Sport Affairs
Adwa
Al Arifi
For more than 15 years, Adwa has led dozens of initiatives to help drive and develop the sport sector as well as playing a key role in mass participation across the Kingdom. Her early work included helping to establish the Kingdom’s first women’s football team in 2007 and founding the Riyadh Women’s Football League in 2008. Her continued to support the growth of football becoming the first ever female board member of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation in 2019.
Hammad
Albalawi
Head of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup™ 2034 bid unit at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation – Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Hammad
Albalawi
Hammad Albalawi leads Saudi Arabia’s FIFA World Cup 2034 bid, aiming to host the first 48-team tournament in a single nation under the slogan “Growing. Together.” Previously, he was Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Planning & Investment at the Ministry of Sport, overseeing the National Sports and Football Strategies. He also led the privatization of state-owned sports assets, boosting investment appeal and managing IP projects like the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
H.E. Bader
Alkadi
Vice Minister of Sport
H.E. Bader
Alkadi
His Excellency Mr. Bader bin Abdulrahman Alkadi holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the College of Business at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, specializing in Financial Management, and a master’s degree in Sports Management and Entertainment from ISDE University in Spain. He began his professional career 20 years ago at HSBC Bank in London, then returned to the Kingdom and transitioned to the trade and retail sector, where he worked for 10 years at Procter & Gamble.
Lamia
Bahaian
Vice President – Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Lamia
Bahaian
Lamia Bahaian is the first female Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). A pioneer of Saudi women’s football who has been involved in the game for over 15 years, she also supervises the SAFF Women’s Football Department.
Lamia has been a board member at SAFF since 2021, and also sits on the Saudi Pro League (SPL) board. She is Head of the West Asian Football Federation’s (WAFF) Women’s Committee and a member of its Executive Committee. In addition, she is a member of the Women’s Football Com
Esteve
Calzada
CEO – Al Hilal
Esteve
Calzada
Experience in Sports & Entertainment and in football clubs advisory, management and ownership roles (FC Barcelona, City Football Group, Prime Time Sport). International Marketing and Business Development in several FMCG companies (Reckitt Benckiser, Sara Lee, Unilever). Author of the sports marketing book “Show Me The Money”, translated into 5 languages.
Tony
Douglas
Chief Executive Officer – Riyadh Air
Tony
Douglas
Tony Douglas became CEO of Riyadh Air in 2022 to lead Saudi Arabia’s new world-class airline. With decades of experience in aviation, infrastructure, and defense, he previously led Etihad Airways’ transformation and held senior roles at Abu Dhabi Airports, BAA, and the UK Ministry of Defence. Known for building high-performing teams and delivering complex projects, he now oversees Riyadh Air’s strategy and alignment with Vision 2030.
Dato’ Windsor
John
General Secretary – AFC
Dato’ Windsor
John
Widely recognised as an outstanding football administrator, Datuk Seri Windsor John has been the driving force behind the AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s all-encompassing vision to propel Asian football to greater heights.
Mauricio
Macri
President of the FIFA Foundation – FIFA
Mauricio
Macri
Mauricio Macri, former President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019, who also served two terms as Mayor of Buenos Aires and President of Boca Juniors Club on three occasions, is the Executive Chairman at the FIFA Foundation. In his current capacity, Macri is dedicated to leveraging the unifying power of football and the educational opportunities it presents to empower youth, foster positive change, and pave the way for a promising future on a global scale.
Ibrahim
Mohtaseb
Senior Vice President – SELA
Ibrahim
Mohtaseb
Ibrahim Mohtaseb is Senior Vice President at Sela, leading technical and commercial development across Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. He supports business units in concept development, strategy, proposals, and partner relations. He holds a FIFA Master’s in International Sport Management and a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus on marketing.
Omar
Mugharbel
CEO – Saudi Pro League
Omar
Mugharbel
Omar Mugharbel is a dynamic and visionary leader, currently serving as the CEO of the Saudi Pro League (SPL). With a proven track record of driving organizational transformation and operational excellence, Mugharbel is spearheading the SPL’s efforts to transform Saudi Football. His mission centers on creating a sustainable and commercially viable league while preserving the essence of the sport.
Clarence
Seedorf
Ambassador – LEGA SERIE A
Clarence
Seedorf
One of the most talented and complete attacking midfielders in football history, Clarence Seedorf has delighted generationsof fans with his great technique, powerful and precise shot and extraordinary leadership on and off the pitch.He is the only footballer in football history to have won the Champions League with three differentclubs (Ajax 1994-95, Real Madrid 1997-98, AC Milan 2002-03
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