Saudi Arabia is making a bold push to transform its modest golf landscape into a luxury-driven sporting destination, partnering with Canadian tech entrepreneur and BlackBerry co-founder Jim Balsillie in a $100 million investment to develop high-end golf resorts across the kingdom. The initiative, as reported by the Financial Times, is part of Riyadh’s broader Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its oil-dependent economy by promoting tourism and lifestyle experiences.
Balsillie, who also owns Canada’s largest golf course operator, GolfNorth, told the Financial Times that he plans to build seven to ten golf courses, with ambitions of eventually developing up to 100 across Saudi Arabia, which currently has fewer than 15. His first project is slated to break ground as early as this year in Wadi Aslaa, a former sewage dumping site on the outskirts of Jeddah, now being repurposed for tourism.
The resorts will be co-developed with Sumou Global Investment, a real estate fund, and will include hotels and upscale residential communities, targeting upper-middle-class homebuyers and international tourists.
“Our type of development is in line with the kingdom’s push for more tourism and more residential accommodations — golf ties it all together,” Balsillie said, emphasizing the integration of leisure with lifestyle and real estate.
An unconventional feature of the initiative is its outreach to the millions of Muslim pilgrims who visit Mecca each year. Balsillie sees potential in offering extended stays that blend spiritual journeys with modern recreation. “Come for history, natural beauty, and legendary hospitality. Stay for golf and modern lifestyle,” he said.
Despite Saudi Arabia’s dry, desert climate, golf is gaining popularity, especially after Yasir al-Rumayyan, governor of the powerful Public Investment Fund (PIF) and a passionate golfer, took over as president of the Saudi Golf Federation in 2017. Since then, the sport has seen a surge in local interest, supported by free training programs and the recruitment of foreign coaches for men, women, and children.
The PIF has also been a dominant force globally, investing $3.9 billion into the LIV Golf tour, a controversial rival to the PGA Tour that has drawn some of the sport’s biggest names with record-breaking prize money. In parallel, PIF has commissioned new courses across the kingdom, including a high-profile design by golf legend Jack Nicklaus near Riyadh.
Balsillie’s venture enters a competitive market where regional neighbors like the UAE, Oman, and Qatar have already established reputations for high-end golf tourism. The Trump Organization is developing a $500 million golf resort in Oman, and a licensing deal is also underway in Qatar.
“The question is why wasn’t this type of project done, say 10 or 20 years ago when Oman and UAE were doing the same thing?” Balsillie asked, noting that Saudi Arabia is now catching up by leveraging both international partnerships and domestic reforms.
While Balsillie confirmed that the project does not currently receive government funding or tax incentives, he suggested that support “might change down the road.” Both Sumou and Balsillie are self-funding the initial phases and are in discussions with potential outside investors.
Golf courses in arid regions have come under scrutiny for water consumption and environmental impact, but Balsillie emphasized a commitment to sustainable development, including water recycling, renewable energy use, and tree planting. Given Saudi Arabia’s near-total dependence on desalinated seawater, sustainability will be a crucial factor in long-term viability.
As Saudi Arabia continues its rapid transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, luxury golf resorts may soon become a key pillar of its tourism and lifestyle ecosystem — combining modern leisure, real estate, and global investment into one ambitious fairway-forward plan.
