Sporting displays

In recent years the region has competed for and won (controversially in some cases) the rights to host major sporting events, most notably the FIFA 2022 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar.

The Middle East also hosts three Formula One (F1) Grand Prix each season, with the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi hosting races alongside Bahrain.

Dubai has also become a key day in World Rugby’s HSBC World 7s series, and a regular “home venue” for the Pakistan Cricket team since it opened in 2009, with a number of international sides wary of touring Pakistan, due to terror threats. In November Saudi Arabia is scheduled to open the Formula E Grand Prix 2019/20 season, just weeks before

World Heavy Weight Champion, Mexico’s Andy Ruiz, defends his titles against Britain’s former champ, Anthony Joshua, in Diriyah on the outskirts of the nation’s capital, Riyadh.