Forward Sports, one of Pakistan’s most prominent sports goods manufacturers, is preparing to establish its headquarters in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step in expanding its international footprint and strengthening economic ties between the two countries. The development was confirmed by the Saudi embassy on Thursday.
Headquartered in Sialkot, Forward Sports has built a global reputation for manufacturing high-quality footballs and sports equipment. The company is widely known for producing Adidas’s official match balls for FIFA World Cup tournaments and has recently surpassed a major Chinese competitor to become Adidas’s largest football supplier worldwide. This achievement has positioned Forward Sports as a key player in the global sports manufacturing industry.
Discussions around the company’s expansion into Saudi Arabia gained momentum last year. Pakistan’s finance minister revealed in November that representatives of Forward Sports held meetings with Saudi officials during the Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh in October. These talks focused on a collaborative production and distribution model aligned with Saudi Arabia’s industrial localization strategy.
Under the proposed framework, the core high-precision manufacturing processes would continue to be carried out in Pakistan, leveraging Sialkot’s skilled workforce and established industrial base. At the same time, finishing, packaging, and regional distribution operations would be relocated to Saudi Arabia. This approach is expected to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals by boosting local industrial activity, while also enabling Forward Sports to access regional markets more efficiently.
The Saudi embassy in Pakistan stated that the initiative aims to deepen trade and investment cooperation between the two friendly nations. Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, recently met with representatives of Forward Sports to discuss preparations for opening the company’s headquarters in the Kingdom and to explore opportunities for long-term collaboration.
The move is seen as a milestone for Pakistan’s export-oriented manufacturing sector, highlighting the growing global recognition of Pakistani-made sports goods. It also reflects increasing economic engagement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, particularly in areas such as manufacturing, trade, and industrial development, with both sides expecting mutual benefits from the partnership.