ISG Riyadh 2025: The 6th Islamic Solidarity Games Return to Saudi Arabia

Overview of ISG Riyadh 2025

The 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games will take place in Riyadh from November 7th to November 21st. The tournament is the sixth edition overall, and the first since the 2021 Games in Turkey.

This is only the second time Saudi Arabia will host the event. The inaugural ISG tournament was held in Mecca in 2005, and subsequent editions took place in Iran, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.

Day one of the tournament is handed over almost exclusively to the opening ceremony. This will no doubt be a memorable showcase, as the Games returns ‘home.’ On November 8th, the schedule of events will begin, with around 3,500 athletes waiting to make their mark. ISG 2025 will then culminate in the closing ceremony on November 21st.

Across the 15 days of competition, 57 nations will compete across 19 different sports. While there were 19 sports in the previous Games in Konya, there have been some changes in the specific disciplines. The list of competing countries, meanwhile, has increased since 2021.

Who is Participating?

As the host nation, Saudi Arabia will be aiming for success across the many individual and team events. In the previous tournament in Turkey, the country finished in a modest 15th place in the medal table, and it will want to harness the power of home-field advantage in order to climb the ladder in 2025.

The Saudis will take their place among 56 other nations, many of whom have been regular participants across the previous five Islamic Solidarity Games. Former host nations Turkey, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and Iran will all return, while the list of other notable sporting countries at ISG 2025 includes Afghanistan, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, Guyana, Qatar, and Yemen.

A total of 19 sports will be showcased at the 2025 tournament. Some are considered global disciplines, while others are more specific to the Islamic world. The big news for 2025 sees the introduction of camel racing for the first time, and that historic pastime will feature alongside more established events from previous Islamic Solidarity Games.

Other notable events taking place in 2025 include

• Athletics
• Basketball
• Futsal
• Judo
• Karate
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Volleyball
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

It’s a diverse schedule, and one where many of the participating countries will feel they have a chance of landing multiple medals.

With regard to the country most likely to enjoy success, it’s certain there will be a focus on Turkey once again. They may have enjoyed home advantage last time out, but Turkey fields some world-class athletes, and in 2021, they topped the medal table with 145 gold, 107 silver, and 89 bronze. The Turkish total of 341 medals was more than twice the haul of Uzbekistan in second place.

Behind the top two, Iran secured third place in the medal table, and they were followed by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Indonesia, and Bahrain. 2025 hosts, Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, delivered just 24 medals, and they will be looking to significantly increase that figure in November.

What are the Islamic Solidarity Games?

The Islamic Solidarity Games were introduced in 2005 with the aim of bringing together athletes from Muslim countries around the world. Additional goals are to promote solidarity and bring about a cultural exchange between those taking part.

Athletic excellence is a target for everyone who competes, and the Games provide those in attendance with the opportunity to showcase the best of their talent.

The tournament is overseen by two different bodies. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was formed in 1969 with a view to becoming a collective voice for all those in the wider Muslim world. The other backer of the Games is the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA). Founded in 1985, ISSA is more directly involved in sporting affairs across Islamic nations. Specifically, it aims to promote cooperation between Islamic Countries through the realm of sports.

The two organizations came together with a target of developing a tournament specifically for Muslim countries. There are 57 member nations of the OIC, and all are eligible to take part in the Islamic Solidarity Games. While there is scope for many athletes to participate in the Olympic Games, the qualification process means many will not get the chance to compete at the elite level. The ISG provides that opportunity, and it’s been a significant and welcome addition to the Islamic sporting calendar.

2025 promises to be the biggest Games yet, and it will be boosted by the addition to the schedule of an important sport.

Camel Racing Makes Historic Debut at ISG 2025

Camel racing is a traditional Arabian sport with a long history, so it’s a surprise that it’s yet to have appeared at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Its absence to date may be due to its lack of wider coverage across the participating Muslim nations.

Certain member nations of the OIC do not have a strong association with the sport, but camel racing is important to Arab countries in particular. Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the UAE are among those hoping to make camel racing a true spectacle at ISG 2025.

This is a sport with truly ancient roots, and records can be traced back to the 7th century. It’s likely that camel racing existed before official documentation came into being, and in the modern day, it’s become a popular and highly organized sport and one of the few legal gambling forms in Arab countries.

Significant events already exist in the Arab world: In Saudi Arabia, camel racing enthusiasts can enjoy the King Abdul-Aziz Festival and the Crown Prince Camel Festival. Similarly, major tournaments take place in countries such as Jordan and the UAE.

When the first Islamic Solidarity Games was introduced in 2005, camel racing was a notable absentee, and it’s been left off the schedules ever since. The decision to bring it into the tournament in 2025 is a historic one, and it should be welcomed by all 57 member nations.

At the Games in Riyadh, this discipline is likely to be dominated by Arab countries, but it’s good to see it finally introduced. Camel racing is such an essential part of Islamic heritage that it couldn’t continue to be overlooked for much longer.

How to Follow ISG Riyadh 2025

Anyone looking to follow the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh will find a number of ways in which to keep in touch. Global TV coverage may be scarce, but some TV channels in participating countries are likely to offer a choice of live broadcasts, along with highlights packages. Full details will be provided ahead of the games on the official ISSA website.

Across many mediums, there will also be streaming and highlights of significant events. Interestingly, the official Olympic Games website acknowledges the importance of ISG, and it delivered consistent highlights for the 2021 event in Turkey. It’s likely that similar packages will be available for Riyadh in 2025.

Other outlets will also offer live streaming and highlights of the main events at ISG 2025. Anyone wishing to find comprehensive coverage may want to head to YouTube for a choice of channels broadcasting from the games. Once again, there was a comprehensive package offered in places for the 2021 tournament in Turkey, and it’s certain there will be interest from a diverse range of broadcasters once again.

Social media always provides excellent coverage of major sporting events, and the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games will be no exception. The Islamic Solidarity Sports Association has official accounts across all the major platforms, including X and Facebook.

Facebook is also the home for the official social media site for the 2025 Games. Those who prefer to interact and get their news from the organizers through this medium should check out the official account at islamicsolidaritygames2025.

As yet, there is no official presence confirmed on X or Instagram, but there are many associated accounts to follow. One of the busiest of these is likely to be on X, where the Islamic Solidarity Games Fans have an account at issfgames.

For those who want to get involved on social media, suggested hashtags may include #ISGRiyadh2025 and #CamelRacingISG.

It’s going to be an exciting period for sports across all competing Islamic countries. The Olympic Games may still be seen as the pinnacle for athletes, but in terms of promoting cultural exchange and solidarity between Muslim nations, nothing can match the ISG.

Since the tournament was first held in 2005, each edition has improved significantly on its predecessor. This year’s event promises even more progression, with the introduction of camel racing set to be another significant milestone in the proud history of the Islamic Solidarity Games.