Unanswered Questions Surround WWE Royal Rumble Venue Construction In Saudi Arabia – WWE is facing renewed scrutiny ahead of the Royal Rumble event scheduled to take place Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following a report raising concerns about the rapid construction of a purpose-built venue for the show.
The temporary venue was constructed in the King Abdullah Financial District, with images and videos circulating online over the past month documenting its progress from early groundwork to near completion. Initial doubts centered on whether the structure could be finished in time for the event, concerns that WWE later dismissed. However, the speed at which construction was ultimately completed has now led to broader questions regarding labor conditions and the potential exploitation of migrant workers.
According to a report from POST Wrestling, several human rights organizations believe the compressed construction timeline alone warrants closer examination. Amnesty International’s Ella Knight stated that migrant workers in Saudi Arabia “continue to be subjected to systemic human rights abuses, such as wage theft, excessive working hours, appalling living conditions and hazardous working environments.”
As of now, WWE, its parent company TKO Group Holdings, and relevant Saudi government bodies have not publicly addressed these concerns. POST Wrestling reported that inquiries were sent to the General Entertainment Authority, the Public Investment Fund, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Riyadh Municipality, and the Saudi Arabian embassy in the United States. Embassies representing Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the Philippines were also contacted due to their large migrant worker populations within the country.
The Migrant Workers Office at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh stated it could not provide information regarding labor oversight or worker protections related to the WWE project, noting it had not processed any requests tied to the event and had received no reports from Filipino workers involved in the construction.
The concerns persist despite Saudi Arabia officially abolishing the kafala system in June 2025, replacing it with a contract-based employment framework under its Vision 2030 reforms. While the change was intended to grant workers greater autonomy, critics argue the reforms fall short. Business & Human Rights Centre researcher Catriona Fraser noted that “unions and protests are also banned in the country, curtailing workers’ ability to protest rights abuse and gain remedy and justice.”
Amnesty International maintains that migrant workers remain heavily dependent on employers for legal status and income, a dynamic that can enable forced labor practices. FairSquare Programme Director Nicholas McGeehan described migrant labor conditions as “generally very abusive and deeply exploitative,” with risks heightened by strict deadlines for major international events.
The report adds that similar concerns have been raised about other global sports organizations partnering with Saudi Arabia. WWE has not yet commented on these issues.
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Unanswered Questions Surround WWE Royal Rumble Venue Construction In Saudi Arabia
