Sela (Arabic: صلة) is an entertainment and hospitality company specializing in experiences, events, and destinations founded in Saudi Arabia.
 | |
| Formerly | Sela Sport |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment and hospitality |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | , Saudi Arabia |
Number of locations | 3 |
| Owner | Public Investment Fund |
| Website | sela |
Since 1997, Sela has expanded from the sports industry in Saudi Arabia into the entertainment, recreational and culture industries. Sela is owned by the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia.
The company has developed and managed entertainment and leisure facilities across Saudi Arabia.[1] In 2010 the company acquired a controlling share of the second New York Cosmos.[2] They sold the controlling interest in the team in 2017, but retained a minority stake.[3]
In 2023 Sela became the primary shirt sponsor for the English football team, Newcastle United F.C., who are also majority owned by PIF, in a multi-year deal.[4]
Following the success of several major events outside of Saudi Arabia, including high-profile international boxing events such as Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov at BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, and Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, in March 2025, Sela announced the establishment of their first international office in London.[5]
Destinations
editSela own or manage a number of locations including:
Sponsorships
editFootball
edit
Newcastle United F.C. (2023–24 season onwards)
Sela Studios
editSela expanded into film-production infrastructure through Al-Hisn Big Time Studios, a media-city complex near Riyadh designed, planned and built by ARRI and Sela. The complex was commissioned by the General Entertainment Authority and inaugurated by Turki Alalshikh in November 2024. In October 2025, ARRI announced that Al-Hisn Big Time Studios had received ARRI Stage Accreditation for its virtual-production stage.[6]
The complex covers 300,000 square metres and includes several studio buildings with 10,500 square metres of studio space, a 150,000-square-metre backlot village, production offices, editing rooms and other production facilities.[6]
Sela Studios produced the 2026 Saudi Arabian action film 7 Dogs, which was sponsored by the General Entertainment Authority and Riyadh Season.[7][8] During filming in Riyadh on August 29 2025, Sela Studio achieved two Guinness World Records for film stunt explosions: the largest film stunt explosion and the most high explosives detonated in a single film take.[9][10]
References
edit- ↑ "AIG unit wins Best Commercial Project award at Saudi summit". www.tradearabia.com. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ↑ "New York Cosmos join the MLS in new stadium quest - The Stadium Guide" (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ↑ Carlisle, Jeff (January 10, 2017). "New York Cosmos sold to Mediacom CEO Rocco Commisso". ESPNFC.com. ESPN. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ↑ "Saudi firm Sela is Newcastle's new shirt sponsor". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ↑ "Sela eyes global growth with new London office".
- 1 2 "ARRI officially hands over stage and accredits Al-Hisn Big Time Studios, the Middle East's largest VP project". ARRI. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- ↑ "How 7 Dogs Blew Up Two World Records and Put Saudi Cinema on the Map". GQ Middle East. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (6 June 2025). "'Bad Boys' Duo Adil & Bilall's Saudi Action Thriller '7 Dogs' Unveils First Teaser As Monica Bellucci, Salman Khan & Max Huang Confirmed In Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- ↑ "Largest film stunt explosion". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
- ↑ "Most high explosives detonated in a single film take". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 21 June 2026.