Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-backed New Murabba has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to boost local content, spotlighting opaque governance amid FIFA 2034 hosting plans. Critics link this to sportswashing, citing absent human rights safeguards, migrant worker risks, and the environmental disaster of air-conditioned stadiums proven necessary by Riyadh’s winter darts event on 19-20 January 2026.
Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba, a flagship Public Investment Fund (PIF) project, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to enhance local content development. According to a report by Zawya, published under the headline
“Saudi Arabia: New Murabba signs deal with Industry Ministry to enhance local content,”
the agreement aims to strengthen national supply chains and support the Kingdom’s economic ambitions. This development comes as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 2034, prompting scrutiny over its alignment with global sports governance standards on human rights, labour protections, and transparency.
The MoU, signed between New Murabba Development Company and the Ministry, focuses on assessing local manufacturers’ readiness and expanding supply chains for the ambitious urban project. New Murabba is positioned as a “globally competitive urban destination” under Vision 2030, yet the deal’s structure—entirely between a state-owned entity and a government ministry—lacks any reference to labour rights, migrant worker protections, or independent oversight, despite mentions of “regulations and standards.” FIFA’s human rights policy for host nations, updated post-Qatar 2022, mandates due diligence on such risks, raising immediate questions about compliance.
Deal Details and Key Statements
Zawya journalist Nada Henein detailed the MoU’s core components in the article dated recently.
“New Murabba Development Company, a Public Investment Fund company, signed today a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources,”
the report states, emphasising collaboration to “strengthen local content” and “expand national supply chains.”
The agreement outlines specific actions, including developing “a detailed list of qualified factories” and providing “recommendations to improve the competitiveness of local manufacturers.” It also involves “data-sharing mechanisms” and joint planning to align industrial policy with urban development. Fahad Al-Rasheed, CEO of New Murabba, remarked: “This MoU supports the Kingdom’s broader economic ambitions and reinforces our commitment to grounded innovation and sustainability.” Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, added:
“We aim to enhance transparency in supply chains and ensure high standards.”
No other media outlets have yet reported identical details on this specific MoU as of 22 January 2026, making Zawya’s coverage the primary source. The deal ties directly into Vision 2030 giga-projects, mirroring infrastructure plans for FIFA 2034.
Governance and Oversight Concerns
The MoU’s bilateral nature between PIF’s New Murabba and the Ministry highlights a centralised model with no independent monitoring bodies involved. FIFA’s 2023 Human Rights Policy requires host nations to embed safeguards in bidding and delivery phases, including public consultations and third-party audits—elements absent here. This opacity mirrors Qatar 2022 critiques, where stadium contracts funneled billions through state-aligned firms without transparent labour clauses.
Civil society groups, such as Amnesty International, have flagged similar PIF projects for lacking enforceable human rights benchmarks. The deal’s focus on “supply-chain transparency” refers only to internal data flows, not public disclosure or anti-corruption measures. For FIFA 2034, this raises risks of contracts bypassing competitive bidding, echoing concerns in the New Weather Institute’s “FIFA’s Climate Blind Spot” report on Saudi’s tournament emissions.
Labour Rights and Migrant Worker Risks
Despite references to “regulations and standards,” the MoU omits explicit labour rights or migrant protections—critical given New Murabba’s scale. Saudi Arabia relies heavily on migrant labour for construction, with Human Rights Watch documenting kafala system abuses like wage theft and forced labour in Vision 2030 projects. FIFA mandates host bids address these, yet the deal’s silence undermines trust in World Cup supply chains.
This angle gains urgency from the Riyadh Masters Darts event held 19-20 January 2026 in Riyadh Season, staged indoors due to winter conditions.[conversation_history] Saudi’s FIFA 2034 bid necessitates summer football unless shifted to winter, but extreme heat—averaging 43°C—demands air-conditioned stadiums, as Noema Magazine notes in “The Gulf World That Air Conditioning Wrought.” Fossil Free Football warns such setups exacerbate worker exploitation in construction phases.
Environmental Implications of FIFA 2034 Infrastructure
Saudi’s winter darts event proves the need for controlled indoor environments, linking directly to FIFA 2034’s stadium plans.[conversation_history] The New Murabba MoU’s “sustainability” rhetoric lacks binding metrics, despite marketing the project as innovative. Air-conditioned stadiums, essential for summer play, guzzle energy; the New Weather Institute estimates Saudi 2034 emissions could rise 160-325% from air travel and cooling alone.
Play the Game reports Saudi’s giga-projects like NEOM could emit 1.8 billion tonnes of CO2, mocking FIFA’s climate claims. Qatar 2022’s cooled stadiums set a precedent criticised for energy intensity, per Carbon Market Watch. Riyadh Season spectacles, including darts, whitewash these issues, diverting attention from women’s rights curbs—like male guardianship laws—and migrant deaths, paralleling Qatar critiques.[conversation_history]
Sportswashing and Broader Accountability Debates
The MoU exemplifies sportswashing, where economic deals polish Saudi’s image ahead of FIFA 2034. Riyadh Season’s darts timing underscores propagandistic hosting: indoor events mask climate unfeasibility, per AGSI analysis. FIFA bent stadium rules for Saudi, reducing existing venue requirements from seven to four.
Stakeholders like fans and NGOs question ethical hosting. Forbes’ Vita Scarosella highlighted Saudi’s oil dependency conflicting with 1.5°C goals. Transparency International calls for open contracting in mega-events, unmet here. This connects to global debates: post-Qatar, FIFA faces lawsuits over labour rights; Saudi 2034 risks similar scrutiny.
Stakeholder Reactions and Calls for Scrutiny
Human rights organisations demand FIFA review such deals. The European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR) critiques PIF opacity. Cool Down Network’s Freddie Daley warns of “totally inhospitable” conditions by 2034. FIFA must probe if New Murabba-style agreements expose World Cup infrastructure as unfeasible or unethical.[conversation_history]
Saudi counters with Vision 2030 pledges, like KBR’s sustainability hopes for low-carbon designs. Yet, without independent verification, concerns persist. Consultancy-ME notes environmental challenges in 2034 impacts. Roland Berger urges plastic bans, but enforcement remains unclear.
Implications for FIFA Standards
This MoU tests FIFA’s post-2022 reforms on press freedom—Saudi ranks low on RSF indices—and labour due diligence. Hosting demands verifiable progress; the darts event reveals infrastructure propaganda over reform.[conversation_history] International stakeholders, including UEFA and civil society, urge bid revocation risks if unaddressed.
As preparations advance, the deal spotlights tensions between economic ambition and ethical hosting. FIFA’s response will shape sport’s global credibility.