As Saudi Arabia faces a record budget deficit of over $65 billion in 2025, the regime continues to pour billions through the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) into extravagant sports and entertainment events that bring no real economic value.
From a tennis championship offering $13.5 million in prizes for just five matches to global stars earning millions for mere minutes of play, Saudi spending on “spectacle” has gone beyond image-building — it has turned into a display of wasteful indulgence.
Turki Alalshikh: Turning Public Funds Into a Playground for Luxury
Leading this scene is Turki Alalshikh, the head of the GEA, whose projects have become the clearest expression of unrestrained extravagance in a country urging its citizens to save.
During the “Six Kings Tournament,” Alalshikh allocated more than $15 million for five matches only. Each of the six players received $1.5 million guaranteed, while the winner earned an additional $4.5 million—for a tournament that lasted just a few hours.
Even Yasir Al-Rumayyan, head of the PIF, appeared in a viral video surprised by the heavy golden trophy presented by Alalshikh — a moment that perfectly symbolised the absurd, unaccountable use of public wealth.
Neymar: The Peak of Extravagance
According to talkSPORT, Brazilian footballer Neymar earned more than €101 million from Al-Hilal Club in 2024, even though he played only 42 minutes—meaning each minute on the field cost around 9.2 million Saudi riyals.
His market value has now dropped to €15 million, after the club purchased him for €90 million just one year earlier — one of the most wasteful deals in modern football.
Across the Saudi League, clubs collectively spent over €630 million on player signings in 2025, while revenues reached only €145 million, according to Diriyah Infographic. The result: a league drowning in debt and inflated illusions.
Entertainment as Propaganda — and Global Mockery as the Result
What was intended to impress the world has instead become a global joke about Saudi Arabia’s obsession with spending.
At the Riyadh Comedy Festival, American comedian Andrew Schulz mocked the regime’s excesses on stage, even comparing Turki Alalshikh to Osama bin Laden in a viral bit. His fellow comedian Aziz Ansari said his participation was a reminder that “not all Saudis agree with their government’s actions.”
In the boxing arena, Alalshikh left Las Vegas to boos from the audience after a costly event failed to generate revenue. British promoter Eddie Hearn commented:
“It seems the Riyadh Season show lost huge sums — Turki cares more about the fighters than the profits.”
From Sovereign Wealth to Seasonal Spectacle
This spending pattern exposes how state reserves are being redirected to fund show business rather than sustain public needs. Meanwhile, vital sectors — housing, health, and education — suffer continuous budget cuts.
The result is an unbalanced economy:
On the surface, an image of openness and prosperity; underneath, mounting debt and diminishing returns, with Vision 2030 collapsing under its own financial weight.
When Comedy Reveals the Crisis
Ironically, criticism of this waste has come from inside the regime’s own festivals. What was meant to polish the regime’s image has instead turned into a stage of ridicule, revealing the emptiness behind the spectacle.
As one analyst observed:
“When entertainment becomes excessive, it stops being fun — it becomes an economic warning sign.”
A Nation Laughing on the Edge
Between million-dollar matches, golden trophies, and failed contracts, Saudi Arabia’s extravagance has reached surreal levels.
A state grappling with declining oil revenues and a record deficit continues to laugh — not out of joy, but over the sound of its own financial collapse.
In the end, what was branded as an “era of entertainment” has become a reflection of waste, mismanagement, and detachment from the people’s real priorities.
