Riyadiya 2026
This November, the Riyadiya Women in Sports Conference returns for its second edition, moving from Saudi Arabia to Qatar. Building on the ongoing work of Riyadiya’s action groups, the conference brings together athletes, leaders and decision makers to advance women’s participation, leadership and influence in sport across MENA.
From Visibility to Lasting Change
Visibility opens doors. Lasting progress depends on what follows: access to opportunities, sustained investment and structures that support women throughout their sporting journeys.
Founded by Kotinos, Riyadiya is a year-round regional platform dedicated to this ambition. It connects the sporting, institutional and commercial worlds around a shared responsibility to strengthen the future of women’s sport.
Founded by Kotinos, Riyadiya is a year-round regional platform dedicated to this ambition. It connects the sporting, institutional and commercial worlds around a shared responsibility to strengthen the future of women’s sport.
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Why Riyadiya Matters
Talent Needs Opportunity
An athlete’s future is shaped by more than her performance. Reliable data, clear career pathways, effective safeguarding and support beyond competition all influence how far she can go.
These needs differ across sports and communities in MENA. Addressing them requires local understanding and regional cooperation, with women’s experiences informing the decisions that affect them.
These needs differ across sports and communities in MENA. Addressing them requires local understanding and regional cooperation, with women’s experiences informing the decisions that affect them.
How Riyadiya Works
Four connected stages carry the work forward, from focused discussion to practical tools and continued review.
Action Groups
Closed-door working sessions bring together selected experts across sport, policy, investment, academia, media and athlete development. They examine structural barriers, test ideas and develop recommendations ahead of the conference.
Women in Sports Conference
A regional convening where insights from the Action Groups are brought into public dialogue, priorities are socialised, and selected outputs, partnerships, and commitments are launched.
Practical Outputs
Each cycle is designed to develop resources that organisations can use. These may include evidence frameworks, sponsorship playbooks, career pathway models and guidance for athlete transitions.
Continuity & Accountability
Progress is reviewed between editions to understand what has advanced, where barriers remain and what needs further work. These findings inform the next cycle and keep the agenda moving throughout the year.
Explore The Panel Topics
Data & Research
Building a stronger evidence base for women’s sport, including indicators, data governance, benchmarking, and measurement.
Capital & Governance
Understanding what is needed for sponsors, investors, clubs, federations, and public institutions to treat women’s sport as a credible and investable opportunity.
Pathways in & Through
Sport
Sport
Exploring how girls and women enter sport, progress through it, and build careers as athletes, coaches, referees, administrators, founders, media professionals, and leaders.
Legacy & Impact
Defining what long-term impact looks like beyond visibility, and how women can remain connected to sport through leadership, mentorship, governance, entrepreneurship, media, and community influence.
Panelists to be announced soon...
Our Partners
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Who's Involved
Riyadiya connects people who shape women’s sport, from those competing on the field to those influencing policy, funding, research and public perception.
◦ Government & public-sector institutions
◦ Sports federations, leagues, clubs, and committees
◦ Elite and former female athletes
◦ Sponsors, investors, and private-sector leaders
◦ Academics, researchers, and data partners
◦ Media, content platforms, and storytellers
◦ NGOs, foundations, and women-enabling institutions
◦ Sport entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders
◦ Government & public-sector institutions
◦ Sports federations, leagues, clubs, and committees
◦ Elite and former female athletes
◦ Sponsors, investors, and private-sector leaders
◦ Academics, researchers, and data partners
◦ Media, content platforms, and storytellers
◦ NGOs, foundations, and women-enabling institutions
◦ Sport entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders
Why Partner With Riyadiya
Bring your organisation’s expertise, resources and ambitions to the development of women’s sport across MENA.
A Riyadiya partnership creates opportunities to build relationships across sectors, contribute specialist knowledge and support initiatives aligned with your organisation’s priorities. Contributions can take different forms, including research, funding, campaigns and pilot programmes.
Together, we can identify where your organisation can make a meaningful contribution.
A Riyadiya partnership creates opportunities to build relationships across sectors, contribute specialist knowledge and support initiatives aligned with your organisation’s priorities. Contributions can take different forms, including research, funding, campaigns and pilot programmes.
Together, we can identify where your organisation can make a meaningful contribution.
Stay Connected to Riyadiya
Get the latest conference announcements, action group insights and updates from across the Riyadiya platform, delivered to your inbox.
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