No alcohol allowed - darts heads to Saudi Arabia

Players are set to experience a very different atmosphere when a darts tournament is held in Saudi Arabia - with no alcohol allowed.

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has announced it will stage its first competition in the kingdom on 19 and 20 January 2026.

It will be part of the World Series of Darts, with world champion Luke Littler and world number one Luke Humphries expected to take part.

Unlike other events around the world where boisterous spectators can sink pints while following the action, Saudi Arabia has strict no-alcohol regulations.

The competition's announcement drew a mixed response on social media, with some replies questioning what the atmosphere would be like at a 'sober' event.

It is understood no alcohol will be on sale at the 1,000-capacity venue.

PDC president Barry Hearn last week told Sky Sports:, external "If we can't drink in a country where we must respect their traditions and their laws, we don't drink."

The competition will be held at the Global Theater, Riyadh, which staged the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in December.

That event offers a $1m (£745,000) bonus if a player pots a golden ball after a maximum 147 break, for a 167 clearance.

Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, has said he wanted to get involved in darts and introduce a "crazy concept" to the sport.

The World Series of Darts will begin with the Bahrain Darts Masters from 15-19 January.

Saudi Arabia will follow before events in Denmark, the US, New Zealand, Australia and the Finals in the Netherlands.

Saudi Arabia has been accused of 'sportswashing' in recent years - using its unprecedented spending on sport to improve the oil-producing kingdom's reputation over its human rights record and environmental impact.

It has staged many major sports events, including Formula 1 and golf, and will host the men's football World Cup in 2034.

In February Saudi's UK ambassador Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud said alcohol would not be sold anywhere during the World Cup, including hotels.

The darts tournament will be part of Riyadh Season events in partnership with Matchroom Sport - run by Hearn's son Eddie - which features boxing and snooker.

Other events not part of the Matchroom partnership include the 'Six Kings' tennis exhibition and WWE's Royal Rumble.