How to Licence Sports Academies & Meet Athlete‑welfare Obligations Under Saudi Arabia's Sports Law (2026)

Saudi Arabia’s new Sports Law entered into force on 11 June 2026, bringing every private sports academy, training centre and sports institute under a unified licensing regime administered by the Ministry of Sport. For operators already running programmes, or investors planning to launch one, the window for compliance is now open and narrowing. Sports academy licensing in Saudi Arabia is no longer optional or self‑regulated: the law centralises approval authority, mandates athlete‑welfare standards covering medical care, insurance and youth protection, and introduces inspection powers backed by sanctions that include licence suspension and revocation. This guide provides the practical, step‑by‑step compliance playbook that academy founders, club owners, in‑house counsel and international partners need to act on immediately.

1. Sports Academy Licensing Requirements & Who Must Be Licensed

Under the Ministry of Sport’s Regulation of Professional Licences and Program Accreditation, any entity that offers organised sports training, development or educational programmes on a commercial or professional basis must hold a valid licence issued by MOS. The requirement applies regardless of the sport, the age group served or whether the academy operates from a single facility or multiple sites. Three broad categories of entity fall within the licensing perimeter, each carrying different compliance thresholds.

Types of licences

The sports academy regulations distinguish between entities based on their primary activity and the intensity of their operations. Understanding which licence category applies is the first step toward a compliant application.

Operators that straddle categories, for example, a youth academy that also fields competitive adult teams, should apply for the licence that covers the highest‑risk activity. The MOS regulations make clear that operating without the correct licence category is itself a sanctionable breach.

Minimum physical and governance requirements

The sports academy licensing requirements set out by MOS extend well beyond paperwork. Applicants must demonstrate that their physical facilities meet safety and accessibility standards, that their governance structure includes a designated compliance officer, and that they have adopted written policies on athlete welfare, anti‑doping, and child safeguarding. Specific requirements include:

• Facility safety. Premises must comply with civil defence and municipal building codes; emergency exits, fire suppression equipment and adequate lighting are mandatory.
• Governance. A named individual must be designated as the licence holder’s compliance representative, responsible for liaison with MOS inspectors and maintaining regulatory records.
• Operational policies. Written safeguarding, medical‑emergency and anti‑doping policies must be submitted with the licence application and kept on file at the facility.
• Financial viability. Evidence of adequate capitalisation or financial standing, typically a commercial registration (CR) and audited financial statements, must accompany the application.

Staff qualifications and professional accreditation

The MOS regulation requires every coaching and technical staff member to hold a certificate of qualification recognised in the Kingdom. For football academies, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s (SAFF) coaching licence framework provides a sport‑specific overlay, requiring AFC or FIFA‑recognised coaching certificates at the appropriate level. Industry observers expect similar sport‑specific accreditation frameworks to be formalised for other disciplines as the implementing regulations mature.

Support staff, including physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, and sports psychologists, must hold credentials accepted by the relevant Saudi professional licensing authority. Foreign‑qualified staff should have their qualifications attested and, where required, registered with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) professional registry or the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) for medical practitioners.

2. Step‑by‑Step Application Process via NAFES and Business Platform

The Ministry of Sport Saudi licensing workflow is digital. Applications are submitted through either the NAFES portal on the national services platform (my.gov.sa) or the Business Platform (business.sa), depending on the applicant’s entity type and investor status. Both portals route applications to MOS for review and approval.

Application walkthrough

1. Create an account. Register on the Business Platform (business.sa) using the entity’s commercial registration number and an authorised signatory’s national ID or iqama. Foreign investors without a Saudi CR should first complete company formation and obtain a Ministry of Investment (MISA) licence.
2. Select the sports academy licence e‑service. Navigate to the “Licenses for Sports Academies” service on business.sa. The portal presents a structured application form with mandatory fields covering entity details, facility locations and programme descriptions.
3. Upload required attachments. These typically include:
   • Valid commercial registration (CR) certificate
   • Copy of the entity’s articles of association or partnership agreement
   • Facility lease or ownership documentation
   • Civil defence safety certificate for each premises
   • Staff qualification certificates (coaching, medical, administrative)
   • Written safeguarding and athlete‑welfare policy
   • Medical‑emergency action plan
   • Proof of insurance coverage (participant accident, third‑party liability)
   • Compliance officer appointment letter
   • Programme curriculum or training syllabus
4. Pay the service fee. The portal calculates the applicable fee based on licence type and number of facilities. Payment is made electronically through the platform’s integrated payment gateway.
5. MOS review and site inspection. Following submission, MOS reviews the documentation and may schedule a physical inspection of the facility. Early indications suggest initial validation takes several weeks, with full approval timelines of two to six months depending on application completeness and any required remedial actions.
6. Licence issuance. On approval, the sports academy license is issued digitally via the portal and must be displayed at the academy’s premises.

How foreign investors apply

International academy brands and foreign investors must first establish a legal entity in Saudi Arabia, typically a limited liability company (LLC), and secure a MISA foreign investment licence. Once the Saudi CR is obtained, the entity can apply through business.sa using an authorised local signatory. Joint‑venture structures with Saudi partners are common and may expedite certain approvals. All documentation in a language other than Arabic must be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation.

3. Athlete‑Welfare Obligations: Core Operational Duties

The sports law Saudi Arabia framework treats athlete welfare not as a recommendation but as a binding operational duty. Academies must build athlete‑welfare obligations into their daily operations, training schedules and facility management. The MOS regulations set minimum standards across three pillars: safeguarding, medical preparedness and concussion management.

Safeguarding minors and youth protection

Youth protection in sports academies is a headline obligation. Every academy enrolling participants under the age of eighteen must adopt and enforce a written safeguarding policy. The policy must, at minimum, address:

• Background checks. All staff with direct access to minors must undergo criminal‑background verification through approved Saudi channels before commencing duties.
• Parental consent. Written consent from a parent or legal guardian must be obtained before any participant under eighteen enrols, participates in competitive events or travels with the academy.
• Reporting procedures. The policy must designate a safeguarding lead and establish clear internal reporting channels for concerns about abuse, neglect or inappropriate conduct.
• Code of conduct. A published code of conduct governing interactions between staff and minors, including rules on one‑to‑one contact, digital communications and overnight travel supervision.
• Training. All staff must receive safeguarding awareness training on induction and at regular intervals thereafter.

Sample safeguarding clause (adapt to your academy’s operations):

“The Academy is committed to creating a safe environment for all participants. No staff member shall have unsupervised one‑to‑one contact with a participant under the age of eighteen unless expressly authorised in writing by the Safeguarding Lead. All concerns regarding the welfare of a minor must be reported to the Safeguarding Lead within 24 hours and documented in the Academy’s incident register.”

Medical preparedness

The sports academy regulations mandate a layered approach to medical readiness. The minimum requirements vary by academy size and participant volume, but all licensed academies must have:

• First‑aid trained staff. At least one person with a current, recognised first‑aid certification must be present during every training session and event.
• Emergency action plan (EAP). A written EAP covering cardiac emergencies, severe trauma, anaphylaxis and heat‑related illness, displayed prominently at the facility and rehearsed at least twice per year.
• Automated external defibrillator (AED). An AED must be available on site and accessible within two minutes of any training or competition area.
• Pre‑participation medical screening. Every participant must undergo a baseline medical examination, including cardiac screening, before being cleared to train. Medical clearance records must be retained on file.
• Designated medical officer. Larger academies and those running elite programmes must appoint a registered medical practitioner as the academy’s medical officer, responsible for overseeing all health‑related protocols.

Concussion and return‑to‑play protocol

Concussion management is an area where the likely practical effect of the new sports law will be felt most acutely by contact‑sport academies. Academies must implement a structured return‑to‑play (RTP) protocol aligned with current international consensus guidelines. The protocol should include:

• Immediate removal. Any participant suspected of sustaining a concussion must be immediately removed from training or competition.
• Medical assessment. A qualified medical professional must assess the participant before any return to physical activity.
• Graduated return. A phased, stepwise return programme with documented clearance at each stage, rest, light aerobic exercise, sport‑specific exercise, non‑contact drills, full‑contact practice, return to competition.
• Parental notification. For minors, parents or guardians must be notified of the suspected concussion and provided with written aftercare instructions within the same day.

4. Insurance, Rehabilitation and Return‑to‑Play Requirements

Insurance for athletes and academy participants is a licensing prerequisite. The Sports Law requires academies to maintain adequate insurance coverage to protect participants, staff and third parties. While MOS implementing regulations continue to detail precise minimum sums insured, the following table sets out the coverage categories that every licensed academy should maintain.

Rehabilitation obligations and recordkeeping

When a participant sustains a significant injury, the academy must document the incident, the treatment provided and the rehabilitation plan in a formal medical incident log. Records must be retained for a minimum period consistent with MOS record‑retention guidelines and made available to inspectors on request. The rehabilitation plan should be supervised by a qualified medical professional and include documented clearance before the participant returns to full activity.

Handling serious injury events

Serious injuries, defined as those requiring hospitalisation, resulting in permanent impairment, or involving a fatality, must be reported to MOS and, where applicable, the relevant national sports federation within the timeframe specified in the implementing regulations. Academies should designate a senior staff member as the incident response coordinator, responsible for ensuring that internal protocols, insurance notifications and regulatory reports are completed promptly and accurately.

5. Compliance, Inspections, Sanctions and Dispute Resolution

MOS retains broad powers to inspect licensed academies, either on a scheduled basis or in response to complaints, incident reports or intelligence. Understanding how enforcement works is essential for academy operators aiming to maintain their sports academy license in good standing.

What inspectors will look for

Early indications suggest MOS inspection teams will focus on the following areas:

• Medical rooms and equipment. Presence and condition of first‑aid supplies, AED functionality, and the availability of trained medical personnel.
• Safeguarding records. Evidence that background checks have been completed for all staff, that the safeguarding policy is in force and that incident reports are maintained.
• Staff qualification files. Up‑to‑date coaching certificates and professional accreditation documents for all technical staff.
• Insurance certificates. Current, valid insurance policies covering participants, staff and third parties.
• Facility safety. Civil defence compliance, emergency exit accessibility, and general premises maintenance.
• Participant records. Pre‑participation medical clearances, attendance registers, and parental consent forms for minors.

Sanctions for non‑compliance

The Sports Law empowers MOS to impose a graduated range of sanctions for licensing and welfare breaches. These may include:

• Written warnings for minor or first‑time procedural deficiencies.
• Mandatory corrective‑action plans with a specified deadline for remediation.
• Financial penalties scaled to the severity of the breach.
• Licence suspension pending compliance, effectively halting academy operations.
• Licence revocation for serious or repeated violations, particularly those endangering participant safety.

Record retention and reporting obligations

Academies must retain all licensing documentation, staff records, participant medical files, incident reports and insurance certificates for the period specified in MOS regulations. Industry observers expect a minimum retention period of five years for medical and safeguarding records. All records must be stored securely with appropriate access controls, particularly those containing personal data of minors.

Dispute resolution and sports arbitration

Operators who wish to challenge a licensing decision or sanction have recourse to administrative review processes established under the Sports Law. The Saudi Sport Arbitration Centre, referenced in the Saudi Pro League’s Club Licensing Regulations, provides a specialised forum for resolving disputes between sports entities and regulatory bodies. Academy operators should familiarise themselves with the arbitration rules and time limits for filing appeals, as failing to act within the prescribed period may result in the loss of appeal rights.

6. Practical Templates and Compliance Checklist

The following checklist consolidates the sports academy licensing requirements into a single operational reference. Use it as a pre‑submission audit tool and as an ongoing compliance monitor.

Pre‑application document checklist

• Valid commercial registration (CR) certificate
• Articles of association or partnership agreement
• MISA foreign investment licence (if applicable)
• Facility lease or ownership documents for each premises
• Civil defence safety certificate for each premises
• Coaching staff qualification certificates (AFC/FIFA/recognised equivalent)
• Medical staff professional registration (SCFHS or equivalent)
• Written safeguarding and child‑protection policy
• Written medical emergency action plan
• Concussion / return‑to‑play protocol
• Anti‑doping policy (aligned with WADA code)
• Participant accident / medical insurance certificate
• Third‑party liability insurance certificate
• Employer’s liability / workers’ compensation insurance
• Compliance officer appointment letter
• Programme curriculum or training syllabus
• Parental consent form template (for minors)
• Pre‑participation medical screening form template
• Incident and medical log templates
• Staff background‑check completion register

Sample medical incident log

Conclusion and Immediate Next Steps

Sports academy licensing in Saudi Arabia has moved from a loosely monitored space to a tightly regulated compliance environment. The 11 June 2026 entry into force of the Sports Law means that every private academy, training centre and sports institute must now hold a valid MOS licence and meet operational athlete‑welfare obligations covering medical preparedness, youth safeguarding and insurance. The cost of non‑compliance is not theoretical, sanctions range from fines to full licence revocation.

Operators should take three immediate actions. First, register on the Business Platform (business.sa) or NAFES (my.gov.sa) and begin the application process if not already under way. Second, conduct an internal audit against the compliance checklist in Section 6, paying particular attention to staff qualifications, safeguarding policies and medical protocols. Third, confirm that insurance coverage is in place, adequate and specifically worded to cover the sports and participant demographics your academy serves. For academies with complex structures, international partnerships, multi‑site operations or elite programmes, engaging specialist sports law counsel early will help avoid costly delays and enforcement action.

Official Resources and Links

• Ministry of Sport, Rules and Regulations: mos.gov.sa/en/about-us/rules-and-regulations
• NAFES Licence Service (National Portal): my.gov.sa, Sports Academy Licence Service
• Business Platform, Sports Academy Licence e‑Service: business.sa, Licences for Sports Academies
• MAHD Sports Academy (National Academy Standards): mahd.gov.sa

Sources

1. Ministry of Sport, Regulation of Professional Licences & Program Accreditation (PDF)
2. Ministry of Sport, Rules & Regulations
3. National Portal, NAFES Licence Service
4. Business Platform, Licenses for Sports Academies e‑Service
5. Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Club / Academy Rules
6. Saudi Pro League, Club Licensing Regulations 2025/26
7. MAHD Sports Academy