TKO is considering expanding its live-event footprint in the Middle East before the end of 2026, with COO Mark Shapiro pointing to what he described as demand that is exceeding the company’s current supply of events in the region.
Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Conference, Shapiro addressed TKO’s continuing work with partners in Saudi Arabia while WWE and UFC maintain significant plans across the Middle East. WWE is scheduled to return to Saudi Arabia in November for Crown Jewel, while WrestleMania 43 is set to take place in Saudi Arabia next year. UFC, meanwhile, has forthcoming events planned in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The comments arrive during an important period for WWE’s international event business. A Saudi Arabian WrestleMania will represent a major milestone for the company and for TKO’s broader live-event strategy, putting its biggest annual WWE spectacle in a market that has become central to the organization’s global expansion.
Shapiro made clear that WrestleMania 43 stands above the rest of the company’s upcoming regional plans.
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“Obviously nothing bigger next year than WrestleMania being in Saudi Arabia, which will be one to remember and one not to miss.”
While WrestleMania is the headline attraction, Shapiro indicated that the pipeline may not be limited to the events already publicized. TKO has two more events scheduled in the Middle East this year, but he said the company could potentially add further dates to the calendar.
“We’ve stayed on track with our events for this year. We still have two more events this year. We may actually announce a couple more this year. That’s how much demand we’re seeing, and I think that’s ultimately the headline among the headlines when it comes to TKO and where we sit in the sports entertainment ecosystem. Demand is outstripping supply.”
WWE’s Saudi Arabia Plans Remain a Major Priority
WWE’s upcoming Crown Jewel event will continue a relationship with Saudi Arabia that has steadily grown over more than a decade. The company’s ties to the country date back to 2014, before a far more expansive agreement was reached in 2018. That 10-year strategic multi-platform partnership made Saudi Arabia a recurring destination for WWE premium live events and established an arrangement that has included major cards, championship matches, and high-profile appearances.
Under the TKO banner, the Middle East has continued to be viewed as an important market not just for WWE, but for UFC as well. The ability to bring both brands to the region gives the company multiple avenues for staging major combat-sports and sports-entertainment events throughout the year.
Crown Jewel has become one of WWE’s most recognizable international premium live event brands in recent years. Its November return to Saudi Arabia will be followed by an even larger undertaking in WrestleMania 43. WrestleMania has long been WWE’s defining event, traditionally serving as the company’s largest annual showcase for its top stars, biggest championship programs, celebrity involvement, and global media attention.
Moving WrestleMania 43 to Saudi Arabia demonstrates the scale of WWE’s commitment to the market. Shapiro’s remarks suggest TKO sees that event as part of a wider strategy rather than an isolated one-off production.
TKO Sees a Broader Opportunity for Live Entertainment
Shapiro discussed the Middle East’s appetite for events in the context of the region’s wider push to attract fans, visitors, and international attention. He said Saudi Arabia’s partners are using WWE and UFC events to appeal to audiences both within the Middle East and beyond it.
“Of course, our partners in Saudi bring the UFC and WWE to their region because they’re trying to draw attendance from not just around the globe, but certainly in the Middle East.”
The TKO executive also said that the current regional conflict has not altered the company’s plans. Rather than slowing its live-event business, he said the market remains eager to host major attractions across sports and music.
“All I would tell you is when it comes to the Middle East, despite what’s going on, despite how much longer that may go on, they’re open for business. In fact, I would tell you they’re more hungry to bring live events, not just sports, but concerts to the Middle East to show the world and tourism and fans that they’re open for business and they’re not slowing down.”
That assessment frames WWE and UFC as part of a larger live-entertainment effort in the region. TKO’s properties offer the kind of globally recognizable programming that can draw traveling fans, create major broadcast moments, and help local partners present large-scale events to international audiences.
Potential Additional Announcements Remain Unspecified
Shapiro did not identify which brand or city could be involved if TKO announces additional Middle East events in 2026. He also did not provide dates for any possible additions. His comments leave open the possibility that WWE, UFC, or both could add further events if the current demand continues.
For WWE fans, the immediate confirmed focus remains Crown Jewel in November and WrestleMania 43 next year. Those two shows alone ensure that Saudi Arabia will be a defining part of WWE’s international calendar over the coming months.
For TKO, the opportunity extends beyond any single event. WWE offers a year-round roster and premium live event schedule, while UFC operates with its own global calendar and event model. The company can therefore adapt its Middle East plans around availability, local demand, venue options, and the priorities of its regional partners.
Shapiro’s “demand is outstripping supply” comment is particularly notable because it points to an appetite for more than the established slate of dates. TKO already has a substantial presence in the region, yet the company believes there may be room for additional programming before 2026 concludes.
WrestleMania 43 Will Be the Defining Test
Regardless of whether more 2026 events are ultimately announced, WrestleMania 43 will be the most significant measuring stick for WWE’s next phase in Saudi Arabia. WrestleMania carries a level of importance unmatched by the company’s other events, and its staging in Saudi Arabia will place global attention on both WWE and its host market.
The event is expected to be one of the largest examples yet of TKO’s ability to leverage WWE’s worldwide reach in the Middle East. It also provides a major platform for the company’s partners to bring visitors and fans into the region around a globally recognized sports-entertainment brand.
Shapiro’s remarks indicate that TKO is not treating its existing Saudi Arabian and broader Middle East commitments as a ceiling. With WWE set for Crown Jewel this November, WrestleMania 43 on the horizon, and UFC dates planned in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the company already has a prominent regional schedule in place. If the demand described by Shapiro leads to further announcements, that schedule could become even more extensive.
For now, no additional events have been officially named. Still, TKO’s leadership is signaling confidence in the Middle East as a continuing growth market for WWE, UFC, and the company’s wider live-event business.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.