Saudi Arabia is launching a professional baseball league

Baseball United Saudi leagues will be in Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia has welcomed the world’s biggest boxers, footballers and race car drivers. Now, the Kingdom is set to launch a baseball league. Baseball United Saudi marks the first professional baseball league in the Middle East. 

The Saudi Baseball and Softball Federation have signed an agreement with Baseball United. The aim is to create a professional baseball league in the region across the Middle East and India. In the Kingdom, the leagues will open in Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh. Plus, the partnership will nurture new talent through training programmes, which will create new jobs for coaches, players and referees.  

Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United, explained: “This is a monumental day for the sport of baseball. Saudi Arabia is setting the pace for sports development, investment, and growth in the Kingdom and beyond, and we are truly honoured to now include baseball within those ambitious plans. This elevates Baseball United’s standing and footprint within the region, and enables us to work at the grassroots level to help grow the game in the Middle East’s largest country.

Legend has it that baseball was invented by the US army officer, Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York – although, this has yet to be confirmed by historians. It is believed that the first baseball game took place in 1846, and it was between the Knickerbockers and the New York Nine. 

Baseball United Saudi is expected to announce the 2024 game plans later this year. 

Check in with FACT for the latest news in Saudi Arabia. 

GO: Visit https://baseballunited.com for more information.