Yemen’s Sporting Comeback: SDRPY’s 2025 Youth Drive

Khoshnaw Rahmani, Jadetimes Staff

K. Rahmani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering sport.

---

Image Source: Saen_alhindi

1. Aden’s Sporting Renaissance

On April 7, 2025, Aden awoke to a new kind of buzz. Amid the city’s war-scarred skyline, the gates of three rebuilt football stadiums swung open, signaling that sport—long sidelined by conflict—was reclaiming its place at the heart of Yemeni life. Led by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY), this initiative pairs world-class facilities with youth tournaments and coaching clinics, offering a tangible promise: from pitch to podium, Yemen’s next generation can dream again.

Key elements of the 2025 sports package include:

• Three FIFA-standard football stadiums

• Rehabilitation of the Ali Asad Muthanna Sports Hall

• Over 30 basketball and volleyball courts in six governorates

• A calendar of youth tournaments, coaching exchanges, and referee workshops

2. SDRPY’s Evolution: From Royal Decree to Yemen’s Largest Development Partner

When King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued the royal decree in May 2018 establishing SDRPY, he set a quiet revolution in motion. What began as a bilateral mechanism for large-scale reconstruction soon grew into Yemen’s most prolific non-UN development agency, investing across health, education, water, energy, agriculture—and, since 2023, sport.

Over seven years, SDRPY has:

• Launched 264 projects in all 22 governorates

• Rehabilitated 1,200 kilometers of roads and 150 schools

• Installed 350 water pumps and 200 health clinics

• Spent over USD 1.8 billion on reconstruction and development

By mid-2025, the sports sector emerged as SDRPY’s most visible symbol of hope, reflecting a strategic shift from emergency relief to long-term stability.

3. The 2025 Sports Initiative: A Comprehensive Blueprint

3.1 From Rubble to Roars: FIFA-Standard Stadiums

No longer must young footballers scrape together training space. SDRPY’s three stadium upgrades combined global norms with local pride:

• Al-Jazira Club Stadium: A ten-thousand-seat bowl with new turf, automated irrigation, LED floodlights, and team lounges—transforming a derelict field into Aden’s premier sporting arena.

• Al-Rawdah Club Stadium: Reinforced terraces, electronic scoreboard, press box, and perimeter fencing meet CAF qualifier specifications.

• Al-Menaa Club Stadium: Upgraded drainage and covered stands allow year-round play, even during monsoon-season downpours.

Coach Faisal Al-Mahri recalls, “Walking onto that lush grass felt like a miracle. For the first time in years, our city has a home ground worthy of its passion.”

3.2 Reviving Community Hubs: Ali Asad Muthanna Sports Hall

The Hall’s revival underscores SDRPY’s holistic approach:

• Restored hardwood court and retractable seating

• Upgraded lighting, sound system, and climate control

• New locker rooms, referee rooms, and spectator facilities

Once the heartbeat of Aden’s indoor sports, the venue now hosts basketball leagues, volleyball clinics, and cultural events—reuniting families under one roof.

3.3 Grassroots Foundations: Model School Courts

By embedding sport in education, SDRPY bridges learning and play. Across six governorates, more than 30 courts have been built:

• Multi-purpose basketball and volleyball courts within nine model schools

• Morning physical-education sessions and after-school leagues

• Inter-school tournaments that draw parents and teachers into community support networks

These courts are springboards—where a shy sixth-grader might discover a talent that carries her beyond her hometown.

3.4 Pathways to Competition: Youth Tournaments & Technical Exchanges

Infrastructure alone can’t spark passion—it needs match time. SDRPY’s 2025 tournament slate included:

• Marib Football Championship: 14 clubs, 588 youth, round-robin format unveiling regional stars

• Hadramawt Ramadan Basketball Tournament: 17 teams, 289 players, reviving coastal indoor play

• Coastal Volleyball League: Ten mixed-gender teams fostering inclusion and teamwork

• Technical Exchange Program: Coaching and refereeing clinics conducted by Saudi Ministry of Sport experts

These events have become fixtures on Yemen’s sporting calendar, with local media coverage and scouts from Sana’a and Taiz in attendance.

4. Impact: Nurturing Youth, Strengthening Communities

Beyond match results, the initiative has delivered measurable benefits:

• Youth participation rose by 42 percent in pilot governorates

• Dropout rates fell by 15 percent in model-school districts

• Community centers report 30 percent fewer behavioral incidents among participating students

• Medical clinics note improvements in youth cardiovascular health metrics

Local official Ahmed Rabie observes, “Where once children roamed aimlessly, now they practice, train, and learn discipline. Sport has become our most powerful teacher.”

5. Cross-Sector Synergies: Blending Heritage, Education, and Athletics

SDRPY’s sports drive doesn’t stand alone. It dovetails with cultural and educational projects to amplify impact:

• Sayun Palace Restoration: UNESCO-backed renovation adjacent to model schools, creating heritage walking circuits for students

• Digital Learning Hubs: E-library kiosks installed in stadium concourses, offering e-books on sports science, history, and nutrition

• Artisan Workshops: Local craftsmen produce stadium-style benches and sports equipment, weaving traditional skills into modern facilities

This integrated model turns each venue into a multifaceted community hub where culture, learning, and play intersect.

6. Comparative Perspective: Post-Conflict Sports Initiatives

Yemen’s approach reflects best practices adapted to local realities. In comparison:

Initiative	Lead Agency	Scope & Scale	Community Outcomes
SDRPY Sports Drive (Yemen, 2025)	SDRPY	3 stadiums, 1 hall, 30+ courts, 4 tournaments	1,200+ participants; 42% youth engagement rise
Nayef Stadium Rebuild (Iraq, 2022)	UNDP	Full stadium reconstruction, coach training	Hosted 2023 Arab Youth Games; 25 clubs formed
Beirut Sports Park Project (2024)	European Union	5 public parks, multi-sport courts	35% rise in citywide youth sports uptake
PeacePlayers Middle East Programs	NGOs	Basketball leagues, peace camps	10,000+ youths; measurable inter-communal trust gains

Yemen’s model stands out for weaving sports into education, heritage, and psychosocial support—creating enduring social capital.

7. Timeline: SDRPY’s Sports and Development Milestones

Year	Milestone
2018	Royal decree establishes SDRPY under King Salman; first governorate office opens in Aden
2020	Memorandum of Understanding signed with Saudi Ministry of Sport for technical exchanges
2022	SDRPY recognized as Yemen’s largest non-UN development partner (UN Financial Tracking Service)
2023	Launch of model school and community sports-court program
2024	Rehabilitation of health clinics, schools, and transportation hubs across Yemen
Apr 2025	Inauguration of three FIFA-standard stadiums, 30+ school courts, and sports hall reopened

8. Lessons Learned & Best Practices

Yemen’s sports-for-development journey highlights key insights:

• Integrated planning: Coordinating sports with education and heritage projects multiplies benefits.

• Local ownership: Training coaches and technicians from communities secures maintenance and sustainability.

• Inclusive design: Ensuring mixed-gender access and safe spaces empowers women and girls.

• Data-driven adjustments: Regular monitoring of participation, health, and social metrics informs ongoing improvements.

These practices can guide similar post-conflict contexts—where sport can be both symbol and substance of renewal.

9. Looking Ahead: Cementing the Momentum

Building on 2025’s breakthroughs, SDRPY’s next phase will:

• Establish dedicated youth sports academies in football, basketball, and volleyball

• Launch national women’s leagues and mentorship initiatives for female coaches

• Digitize coaching and refereeing curricula for remote certification

• Host Gulf-level qualifiers in Aden and Taiz, showcasing Yemen’s return to the sporting map

Each step will deepen the link between physical activity, social cohesion, and economic opportunity.

10. From Reconstruction to Rebirth

In a land long defined by division, SDRPY’s 2025 sports drive weaves new threads of unity. The roar of the crowd in a rebuilt stadium, the echo of bouncing balls in a school courtyard, and the smile of a young referee mastering signals—all speak to Yemen’s enduring spirit. By combining human-centered planning, cross-sector collaboration, and world-class facilities, this initiative transcends bricks and turf. It offers proof that when sport returns, life follows—and with it, the promise of a brighter tomorrow.