Surj and DAZN to work closely on establishing DAZN MENA—a broadcasting joint venture.
Surj Sports Investment, the sports investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced a strategic move to acquire a minority stake in DAZN, a global sports entertainment platform. The partnership aligns with both entities’ commitment to expanding access to world-class sports content and enhancing the global sports landscape.
Established in 2023, Surj Sports Investment focuses on driving international sports growth while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s sports ecosystem. Its investment strategy goes beyond direct sports investments to include key industry components such as broadcasting, digital platforms, grassroots initiatives and fan engagement to boost participation and long-term development.
Through this agreement, DAZN will serve as Surj’s official streaming and broadcast partner, providing live and on-demand coverage of Saudi sporting events to a global audience. This collaboration is expected to reshape how regional fans interact with sports while delivering significant economic and social benefits.
A key component of the deal is the launch of DAZN MENA, a joint venture aimed at expanding broadcasting opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing sports industry. This initiative will enhance access to high-quality sports content across the Middle East and North Africa, positioning Saudi Arabia as a major player in the global sports investment market.
Speaking about the deal, Danny Townsend, CEO at Surj Sports Investment, said: “DAZN has established itself as the global sports platform of choice, and this is a really exciting opportunity to build on DAZN’s significant successes in recent years by bringing more sports to fans and audiences around the world.
“Surj supports the leadership of DAZN, and our partnership will accelerate the growth of DAZN and capitalise on the significant and growing demand for high-quality sports broadcasting.
“This investment will help Surj achieve its mandate of driving fan engagement, encouraging sports participation and unlocking game-changing opportunities, and further showcasing the region as a destination for world-class sports.”
Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN, added: “DAZN is the only truly global entertainment platform dedicated to sport, which makes us ideally positioned to expand access to sports content globally from Saudi Arabia’s growing sports sector. As part of the DAZN MENA joint venture with Surj, DAZN is committed to maximizing the reach and accessibility of sports, while delivering the best entertainment experience to a global community of passionate fans. This is a milestone partnership for the group, which is bound to transform the sports entertainment landscape in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.”
