When Ben Harburg completed a takeover of Al Kholood in July, it marked a quiet but seismic shift in Saudi football.
He became the first foreign owner of a Saudi Pro League club, an unprecedented step in the kingdom’s bold march towards privatisation.
Unlike Al Hilal or Al Nassr, Al Kholood are not a super club flush with marquee names or a multi-million dollar transfer budget. They are a modest, small-town side from Ar Rass in the Qassim region. They finished ninth last season after being promoted to the top flight in 2024.
Now they must contend in a league that boasts Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kingsley Coman. It is a David vs Goliath story, precisely the sort of challenge Harburg says he relishes.
“The SPL is the most exciting 'new' league on the planet,” he tells The National. “It’s already fourth in terms of payroll. The infrastructure is surging ahead of the [2034] World Cup. We have stars of the world here.
“I’m even surprised when I see stars that we used to compete against in La Liga sitting in other clubs outside of the big four in Saudi Arabia. So I don’t know what league is more exciting and dynamic.
“We see a lot of flatlining in Europe among the French league, the Italian league. So I think this is the growth story in global football, and it’s a real football fan base.”
Harburg is managing partner of MSA Capital, a global investment firm with more than $2 billion under management.
His ownership of Al Kholood is not an isolated venture but part of a global journey that began far from Qassim.
Born in Colorado, he spent parts of his childhood in southern Spain and Switzerland, an upbringing that gave him a cosmopolitan outlook shaping both his career and his investments.
A Fulbright scholarship took him to Germany, where he studied Islamic sciences and oriental philology, an unusual path for an American investor but one that gave him a cultural fluency he now considers invaluable.
He then joined the Boston Consulting Group in Berlin before being sent to Dubai in 2007 to work on an Islamic banking project.
That early experience working in the Gulf left a lasting impression and helps explain why he views Saudi Arabia’s football revolution not as a risk but as an irresistible opportunity.
His first step into football investment came in 2020, when he became a minority shareholder in Cadiz CF, a provincial Andalusian side with one of the smaller budgets in Spain.
Promotion that summer ended a 14-year exile from La Liga. What followed was nothing short of remarkable.
Within weeks of their return, Cadiz beat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu – a club whose budget was more than 10 times their own.
Two months later, they stunned Lionel Messi’s Barcelona 2–1 at home. Spanish headlines hailed them as “giant-killers” marvelling at how a team that had been in the third tier only five years earlier were now toppling the elite.
For four consecutive seasons, they defied expectations, even climbing to fifth place in La Liga at one stage before finally succumbing to relegation in May 2024.
Harburg looks back on that run as proof of what can be achieved on limited means.
“We took one of the lowest payrolls in La Liga, and we beat Real Madrid, Barcelona, with Messi on the field. We beat Atletico Madrid, Valencia, etc. So I’m used to being the underdog. I’m used to being the little guy in the fight,” he says.
“But we are really up against it here, and we will be throughout the history of this league, because there’s four more big clubs coming up in the next couple of years. So it’s going to be challenging.”
That perspective framed his comments to The National on the eve of his team facing Al Nassr, the Riyadh powerhouse led by Cristiano Ronaldo.
In a quirk of fate, it was also Al Nassr with whom Cadiz had signed a partnership in 2022. The agreement covered youth development, coach exchanges and the promise of pre-season friendlies.
Harburg's first step into Saudi football was therefore indirect, via Cadiz’s links with Al Nassr. Now the circle has closed, with Harburg’s own club taking the field against them.
The gulf in resources is impossible to ignore, and Harburg does not shy away from it. “It’s a very top-heavy league. We’ve got four big clubs, one of whom we’ll face tonight, whose payroll and even one individual player’s transfer fee was bigger than my entire payroll at Al Kholood. So, we’ve got to find a way to do a lot with a little.”
He sees the club as part of a broader transformation, with football carrying the power to reshape perceptions and drive change in the kingdom.
“I expected maybe there might be a little bit more backlash about investing in Saudi Arabia, but actually it’s been a really easy time, and I think people are starting to realise how exciting this league is and how much impact football can have also on social change and being almost a Trojan horse for social change. So, I’m really excited for the potential that it has in this league.”
Ownership, he argues, is as much political and cultural as financial. “I think it’s a little bit of everything. I mean, I’m actually a geopolitical person by training, and so I love that everything is entwined in football, geopolitics, religion, business, politics. And so, you know, being an owner in a league lets you have a little taste of all of that.
“You get involved in the political conversations, you can represent the country on a grander scale, you can be a force for social change. And then economically, I believe that we are investing in a league that’s going to grow exponentially, and so it should be a good financial investment.”
Asked why Saudi Arabia rather than America or Europe, Halburg's reply is blunt.
“America is overvalued, and the prices are just insane,” he says. “And I don’t think America is a true footballing country. I am still interested in Europe, so I will be doing more acquisitions in Europe.
“I’ve certainly not turned my back on Europe, but Saudi Arabia was a unique opportunity through this privatisation process to take over a club in the first division in a situation that I thought we could create a lot of value by reshaping the infrastructure, the training, the coaching, everything. And that’s what we’re doing in this transaction.”
That transformation is still in its infancy. Al Kholood’s early results have not gone their way, but the players insist patience will pay off.
Argentine goalkeeper Juan Pablo Cozzani admits the squad has barely had any time to gel. “We know everything is very new. Only two or three days ago were all the players together to be able to start this project. I’m very confident.
“It didn’t go our way in the first two matches, but I’m confident that over the course of the season we’ll do very well.”
That belief is echoed by Nigeria defender William Troost-Ekong, who told The National: “It’s really positive. Last year was also great. I think we can’t forget what the last president did for the club. To finish ninth position in the first Saudi Pro League season was a great achievement.
“But this year I see a lot of positive changes. We have a lot of young players coming in, great talents. We need some more time to work together. We’ve only been together now for nine weeks. But yeah, what the club’s ambition is and how they are creating the opportunities for us to improve, I think is great. And if we carry on fighting like this and improving, it’s going to be great.”
For Cozzani, the cultural adjustment has been easier than expected. “Even though our club is from Ar Rass, from the little I’ve seen – I’ve only been here three weeks – people are very kind, very helpful. I didn’t know what to expect, but I’ve been treated really well.
“The club is also there to make sure we don’t lack anything. It’s another culture, so of course it could have been difficult at the start, but I’ve adapted quite well and I’ve met great people, which is very important.”
Harburg’s approach has been personal as well as financial. Not long after the takeover, locals spotted him in a small restaurant in Ar Rass, sharing a meal and listening to fans speak about their hopes for the club.
For a man who manages billions through MSA Capital, with investments in companies such as Uber and Airbnb, those gestures underline a clear intent to root Al Kholood firmly in its community.
That commitment extends to the broader project. Harburg is convinced the Saudi Pro League has the ingredients to become one of the world’s elite competitions.
“It will evolve quite rapidly. I mean, again, our feeling is that we’re on an upwards trajectory in terms of infrastructure,” he adds.
“There will be more privatisations, which I think will lead to more efficiency in the league. And so I expect this league will be almost unrecognisable five years from now and easily be a top-five league in the world.”
His record at Cadiz shows he thrives as the outsider, and Al Kholood offers perhaps an even bigger challenge.
The odds are steep, but so too is the opportunity.
Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
Poacher
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The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
The%20specs
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MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 1 (Martinez 18' pen)
Juventus 2 (Dybala 4', Higuain 80')
As it stands in Pool A
1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14
2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11
3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5
Remaining fixtures
Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am
Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm
Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
League Cup, last 16
Manchester City v Southampton, Tuesday, 11.45pm (UAE)
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Jawan
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READ MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The specs: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 280hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
At a glance
Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free
Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
Scoreline
Liverpool 4
Oxlade-Chamberlain 9', Firmino 59', Mane 61', Salah 68'
Manchester City 3
Sane 40', Bernardo Silva 84', Gundogan 90' 1
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')
Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
SPECS
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