Luke Littler is set to lead darts’ debut in Saudi Arabia in the 2026 World Series of Darts.
The PDC has confirmed that next year’s Series will head to the Middle East in mid-January as part of Riyadh season.
Luke Littler is likely to compete in Saudi Arabia for the first time in JanuaryGettyThis will be the first time the sport has hosted an event in the Middle East, having been announced as one of the initial six venues in the ongoing worldwide roadshow.
It comes as part of a groundbreaking collaboration between Matchroom Sport and Riyadh Season, with a host of other sports set to feature – including boxing and snooker.
As a result, Saudi darts fans will get their first chance to watch some of the game’s biggest names in action.
World champion Littler is expected to take part, as well as world No. 1 Luke Humphries.
And arrows lovers don’t have long to wait, with the inaugural darts competition in the kingdom set to take place between January 19 and 20.
It will be held at the Global Theater, Riyadh, which hosted the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in December.
The move sees darts become the latest sport to expand into the Saudi market, with some huge events having been staged in the nation in recent years.
Boxing, MMA, WWE, Formula 1 and LIV Golf have all become regular fixtures in the Saudi sporting calendar.
This is largely down to chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, who is responsible for bringing some of sport’s biggest events to his homeland.
Alalshikh has previously spoken of his plans to get involved in darts, admitting he wanted to introduce a “crazy concept” to the sport.
Alalshikh has been credited for putting on boxing’s biggest fightsGetty The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has been held in the last two years, welcoming the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan to the kingdomVCG via GettyIn an appearance on Netflix series Matchroom: The Greatest Showman, the businessman said: “I want to do the darts, but I want to do it [in a] crazy way.”
Meanwhile, Matchroom Sport founder Barry Hearn hinted he’d be willing to think outside the box when he told Alalshikh: “We’re on a mission.
“We want to have relationships with people like you for the long-term in place, and then we want to grow a massive business.”
Alalshikh famously introduced the 20-point golden ball rule at last year’s Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
If a player pots a golden ball after a maximum 147 break, for a 167 clearance, they win a $1million (£745,000) bonus.
And while Alalshikh’s plans for the darts have not yet been revealed, one thing fans must consider is the strict no-alcohol regulations in Saudi Arabia.
GettyMichael van Gerwen won the 2025 World Series of Darts, beating Luke Littler in September’s final[/caption]Darts has earned a reputation for its boozy culture and boisterous crowds, but this will be off the cards in the Middle East.
It is understood no alcohol will be on sale at the 1,000-capacity venue.
PDC president Barry Hearn last week told Sky Sports: “If we can’t drink in a country where we must respect their traditions and their laws, we don’t drink.”
The World Series of Darts will begin with the Bahrain Darts Masters from January 15-19.
The Saudi debut will follow this from January 19-20, before further events in Denmark, the USA, New Zealand and Australia, as well as the Finals in Amsterdam.
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