By Mewati Sitaram
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) to launch its latest campaign, “I Came for Football, I Stayed For More”, highlighting the Kingdom’s diverse year-round events across sport, culture and entertainment.
The campaign, under STA’s brand “Saudi, Welcome to Arabia”, is rolling out in Europe, India and China. Featuring Ronaldo, now Saudi’s most famous foreign resident, the film takes viewers through the country’s marquee events, from thrilling sporting moments to cultural festivals, inviting visitors worldwide to “stay for more.”
Saudi’s Unreal Calendar showcases mega events such as the FIFA World Cup 2034, AFC Asian Cup 2027, Esports Olympic Games 2027 and Asian Winter Games 2029. Annual fixtures include the Esports World Cup, Formula 1, LIV Golf, international tennis and the Saudi Pro League. Cultural highlights feature Riyadh Fashion Week, the Red Sea International Film Festival, Riyadh Season, Jeddah Season and electrifying music festivals like MDLBeast.
Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said Saudi is “cementing its place as a global destination that combines cultural authenticity, warm hospitality and the thrill of world-class events.” STA CEO Fahd Hamidaddin noted the Kingdom has hosted over 100 global events since 2018 and is targeting 150 million visitors by 2030.
Ronaldo said, “From camels to horses, racing to esports, from the desert to the stadium — this is where the future of sport is being written.”
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
