There are few areas of the world that have invested as heavily in the future of sports as countries in the Gulf region. With Qatar hosting the successful FIFA World Cup, 2022 came to a great ending. Meanwhile, The Arab world is enjoying a golden generation of sporting events, and if anything, this is only the beginning of a new era for Middle East countries hosting Sports events.
And there will be even more sporting events in the region for sports fans to enjoy during 2023, many of which will be available for betting on at the top sports betting sites at www.arabicbet.org. But, what are some of the notable events on the Gulf region’s calendar this year?
Qatar Grand Prix
The Formula 1 season is quickly approaching, and there will be a number of stops throughout the campaign in the Gulf region. That includes the Bahrain Grand Prix, which will be among the first races of the campaign. However, one of the most exciting races will take place later in the season, as the Qatar Grand Prix takes place for just the second time ever.
The illustrious Losail International Circuit will host the event in 2023, as drivers compete over 306.660km and will complete a total of 57 laps. This race was first held in 2021, but it was dropped from the schedule in 2022 due to Qatar’s upcoming responsibility of hosting the World Cup. It is one of the four-night races on the calendar this season, with the Bahrain race also scheduled in the Gulf region. Lewis Hamilton won the first edition of the race, and he will be looking for a famous second victory in 2023.
The Saudi Cup
One of the standout events on the international racing calendar will take place in the Gulf once again this year, as the G1 Saudi Cup will be staged at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia. The race is one of the most lucrative on the calendar, with a stunning $20 million available to connections. The winning rider will earn their owner $10 million in prize money, and some of the biggest stars from around the planet will be involved once again in 2023.
Mishriff won the race for trainer John Gosden in 2021 and set the quickest finishing time in the process. However, Emblem Road delivered a fine late drive to land the win in the race last year, which was the first time that it was officially held as a Group 1.
This year’s race will take place on Saturday, February 25, and some of the biggest stars in the world will be competing. One of the first big names that have officially signaled their intent to run in the race this year is Country Grammer, for trainer Bob Baffert. The runner landed victory in the prestigious G1 Dubai World Cup in 2022.
LIV Invitational Golf Series
The LIV Golf Tour will feature some of the world’s best golfing stars throughout 2023, and events will take place across Europe, the United States, and Latin America. However, one of the first events will be staged in Saudi Arabia, which is understandable given that it is funded by the Saudi sovereign fund. Top global stars such as Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson will be involved in the events throughout the season.
The exact date and location for the event in Saudi Arabia is yet to be announced, but it is likely to be a huge success based on the popularity of the event in 2022. Last year’s event in Saudi Arabia was played in October, meaning that it was the penultimate event of the series, and the final individual competition before Miami hosted the team competition at the end of October.
It will be another competitive event in 2023, as Brooks Koepka will be looking to land a second straight victory in the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah. The event in 2022 was held at KAEC’s Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, but there has been no word yet whether the same course will once again be holding the prestigious event in 2023.
Formula 1
Formula 1 visits to the Middle East are nothing new, as the sport has visited Abu Dhabi for its end-of-season races for a decade. However, Saudi Arabia has also been in the spotlight in recent years, with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix appearing on the calendar for the first time in 2021. However, many speculated whether this was the right decision for the sport.
One of the biggest critics was Lewis Hamilton, who raced in a rainbow-colored helmet to express his displeasure. However, the race has produced some exciting moments in the Formula 1 season, including a bitter battle between Hamilton and Max Verstappen in the first race of 2021.
With Hamilton’s win, the title race continued. Last year’s race was won by Verstappen, who finished less than a second ahead of Charles Leclerc in another dramatic repeat at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Dubai on the map
A list of more than 400 international and local sporting events, in which hundreds of thousands of professional and amateur athletes will compete, has been approved by the Dubai Sports Council for the year 2023. Top of which is the DB World Cricket League, The Hankook Dubai 24 Hours Fast Car Challenge, Polo Silver Cup, and the Dubai Desert Classic Championship.
Conclusion- Bright Future Of Sporting Events
It looks set to be another exciting year of sport in the Gulf region, with golf, F1, and horse racing events all taking center stage. However, it looks as though the Golden Generation of huge names traveling to the region isn’t likely to come to an end anytime soon. There have already been reports that countries in the region are looking to make bold plans for years to come, with a possible World Cup or Olympics being lined up by Saudi Arabia.
