October 9: The Saudi Pro League has spent three years buying attention. Their latest set of numbers suggest that at least some are catching on.
The league said at its General Assembly this week that live viewership for the 2025-26 Roshn Saudi League reached 198 million, up 52% on the previous year, while revenue grew 11.5% following a 12.45% increase the previous season.
Those are attractive percentage increases, although the SPL did not provide an absolute number on the revenue, nor did it specify whether the 198 million viewers represent unique viewers or a cumulative total over the course of the season.
That said, its social media following rose 44% to 23 million, while the league said its global market value had reached SAR 4.6 billion ($1.23 billion) by the end of the campaign.
There was also a useful scoreboard provided by the World Cup. Forty-eight RSL players took part in the 2026 tournament, making Saudi Arabia the sixth most represented domestic league and the biggest contributor outside Europe’s traditional big five.
The first phase of the Saudi project saw the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and the checkbook was opened to follow a flow of high-profile names. The real conundrum was whether the league could turn this spending rage into something with lasting power.
The SPL is now targeting a 255% increase in non-live YouTube views over last season, with 82% of that audience coming from outside Saudi Arabia.
There is also more money moving on the transmission side. A six-year MENA rights deal covering the Pro League and other Saudi competitions was signed with Thmanyah, part of the Saudi Research and Media Group, for SAR 2.32 billion ($618.67 million).
The league has also begun experimenting with distribution instead of relying solely on mainstream broadcasters, launching a direct-to-consumer model in 16 markets and making matches available to approved creators and third-party platforms.
SPL President Abdulaziz Al Afaleq said: “The results presented at the General Assembly demonstrate the significant progress being made by the Roshn Saudi League and the strength of the collaboration between our clubs, the SPL and our partners.
“The successes of recent seasons provide an important foundation for our next phase. Our ambition is to continue raising the level of competition, strengthening the league’s regional and global standing and building a more sustainable and valuable ecosystem for clubs, fans and Saudi football.”
There has also been less glamorous progress. All RSL clubs secured both domestic and AFC licenses for the first time last season, while Saudi Arabia continue to top the AFC Men’s Club Competition rankings.
None of this settles the larger debate surrounding the league. Its rise has been underpinned by a level of state-backed investment that few rivals can hope to match, and the percentage growth of a developing business base can quickly favor it.
The SPL are starting to produce numbers beyond transfer fees and wage headliners – the next question is whether that interest can be sustained once spending slows and Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, retires.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at (email protected)