TKO Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel is facing criticism for his approach to safety concerns surrounding upcoming events in Saudi Arabia, as the company pushes forward with shows despite an airport closure and government warnings.
In a recent Fox News appearance, Emanuel was questioned about WWE’s Crown Jewel event scheduled for November 7th in Riyadh, particularly given State Department warnings that US businesses could be targets in the region.
Emanuel’s response was straightforward: “Right now, everything’s still set [for WWE Crown Jewel]. This weekend coming up in Abu Dhabi, we have a UFC match. We have in the middle of November, a Frieze art show. So, so far so good. Nothing’s been cancelled.”
When pressed about potential government briefings and whether there’s a scenario where the company would pull events, Emanuel acknowledged they have a team working on this and are monitoring the situation daily, with plans for relocating events if necessary.
Emanuel stated, “We have a whole team kind of working on this, and kind of when, and if that doesn’t happen, where we can move it. It’s a daily monitoring.”
However, reports have confirmed that Riyadh’s airport is currently closed, forcing production staff for a November 5th slap event to fly into Bahrain and then endure a five-hour bus ride through the desert to reach the Saudi capital. This comes on top of already lengthy international flights that can span 10 to 16 hours.
Despite these challenges, the Canelo Alvarez matchup is proceeding as planned, with the boxer already on the ground in Riyadh. UFC President Dana White echoed Emanuel’s stance when asked about conducting events amid regional security concerns.
“Never have I been over here where I felt unsafe and felt that my staff were unsafe,” White stated, adding, “When we have a deal, when we have a contract, when there’s money to be made, we will be there no matter what.”
Critics argue that both executives are missing the point entirely. While White referenced positive past experiences in the Middle East including during the pandemic, observers note that current circumstances are vastly different. Government advisories are now warning non-essential personnel to leave the region, and the airport closure represents a significant security development that didn’t exist during previous events.
Staff members affiliated with the events have expressed frustration with what they perceive as a lack of empathy from leadership.
