Section 2 - Organising Body
Event Details
Organising NAC:
Saudi Aviation Club - Saudi Arabia
Organising NAC’s CIA Delegate:
Hussain Makkawi
NAC’s CIA Contact Email:
h.makkawi@saudiballooning.sa
NAC’s CIA Contact Phone:
+966 50 780 3990
NAC Letter of Approval:
Organising Body:
Saudi Ballooning Federation
Main Contact / General Manager:
Hussain Makkawi
Main Contact Email:
h.makkawi@saudiballooning.sa
Main Contact Phone:
+966 50 780 3990
Official Mailing Address:
TBC
Email:
TBC
Phone:
TBC
Event President:
Michael Lassen, COO, Air Sports Group
President Email:
ml@airsportsgroup.com
President Phone:
+447570583896
Organisers Event Experience:
Air Sports Group (ASG) will serve as the delivery partner to the Saudi Ballooning Federation (SBF) for this Championship.
ASG has a proven track record with FAI Category 1 events. It founded the CAT 1 Swoop Freestyle FAI World Championship – an award-winning, internationally recognised media and entertainment property that has toured Europe, the United States and the Middle East, with television distribution reaching more than 200 million households. Most recently, ASG supported air sports activities at The World Games in Birmingham, USA.
Saudi Arabia Case Study:
In its capacity as licence owner and strategic partner of the Ministry of Sport, Air Sports Group was engaged to plan and deliver the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first-ever world championship event in air sports, specifically skydiving, during Jeddah Season 2019.
Positioned as the flagship event among more than 150 events curated for the Season, the event made history on multiple fronts. Whilst the format had always featured a single, gender-inclusive competitive category, it was in Saudi Arabia that, for the first time, a woman secured a podium finish - an achievement later recognised with IMG’s “Best Moment of the Year” award.
Air Sports Group was responsible for the end-to-end technical and operational delivery, including airspace management and operations. In parallel, ASG also developed and executed the commercial program, highlighted by a 16-camera live production, including live footage from the competition helicopter, which was broadcast to over 200 million households worldwide. Distribution was secured through key global media partners including the Olympic Channel, Discovery, Eurosport, and IMG among others.
The event not only delivered significant commercial returns, but also long-term global visibility for Saudi Arabia as an emerging destination for elite international sport.
The World Championship will be held during the same period as AlUla Skies, the region’s renowned balloon festival. This alignment ensures that both the competition and commercial activities are delivered to the highest standards and achieve maximum commercial impact.
Both events will fall under the authority of the competition management team, guaranteeing that the World Championship retains priority regarding airspace usage and logistical arrangements. Experience flights will only operate in time windows and airspace areas that do not conflict with competition flights. Competitors and officials will receive priority access to accommodation closest to the competition area and facilities. Additionally, separate gas refuelling sites will be established to ensure smooth and efficient operations for all parties.
For this CAT 1 event, ASG will integrate leading specialists from the ballooning community – covering event direction, competition management, scoring, safety, meteorology and flight operations – to deliver a professional, athlete-centred event to the highest international standards. In 2026 and 2027, the proposed competition area will be validated during the Saudi National Ballooning Championship / 6th FAI Women’s World Championship (if rewarded). This event is the pinnacle of the event series from 2026 and 2027 and will seek to take ballooning competitions to the next level in relation to competitor service, hospitality, public activities and air shows, content production and commercial value.
See Section 3 for the proposed structure and key personnel. The person responsible for paying the sanction fee will be Hussain Makkawi listed above.
ASG has a proven track record with FAI Category 1 events. It founded the CAT 1 Swoop Freestyle FAI World Championship – an award-winning, internationally recognised media and entertainment property that has toured Europe, the United States and the Middle East, with television distribution reaching more than 200 million households. Most recently, ASG supported air sports activities at The World Games in Birmingham, USA.
Saudi Arabia Case Study:
In its capacity as licence owner and strategic partner of the Ministry of Sport, Air Sports Group was engaged to plan and deliver the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first-ever world championship event in air sports, specifically skydiving, during Jeddah Season 2019.
Positioned as the flagship event among more than 150 events curated for the Season, the event made history on multiple fronts. Whilst the format had always featured a single, gender-inclusive competitive category, it was in Saudi Arabia that, for the first time, a woman secured a podium finish - an achievement later recognised with IMG’s “Best Moment of the Year” award.
Air Sports Group was responsible for the end-to-end technical and operational delivery, including airspace management and operations. In parallel, ASG also developed and executed the commercial program, highlighted by a 16-camera live production, including live footage from the competition helicopter, which was broadcast to over 200 million households worldwide. Distribution was secured through key global media partners including the Olympic Channel, Discovery, Eurosport, and IMG among others.
The event not only delivered significant commercial returns, but also long-term global visibility for Saudi Arabia as an emerging destination for elite international sport.
The World Championship will be held during the same period as AlUla Skies, the region’s renowned balloon festival. This alignment ensures that both the competition and commercial activities are delivered to the highest standards and achieve maximum commercial impact.
Both events will fall under the authority of the competition management team, guaranteeing that the World Championship retains priority regarding airspace usage and logistical arrangements. Experience flights will only operate in time windows and airspace areas that do not conflict with competition flights. Competitors and officials will receive priority access to accommodation closest to the competition area and facilities. Additionally, separate gas refuelling sites will be established to ensure smooth and efficient operations for all parties.
For this CAT 1 event, ASG will integrate leading specialists from the ballooning community – covering event direction, competition management, scoring, safety, meteorology and flight operations – to deliver a professional, athlete-centred event to the highest international standards. In 2026 and 2027, the proposed competition area will be validated during the Saudi National Ballooning Championship / 6th FAI Women’s World Championship (if rewarded). This event is the pinnacle of the event series from 2026 and 2027 and will seek to take ballooning competitions to the next level in relation to competitor service, hospitality, public activities and air shows, content production and commercial value.
See Section 3 for the proposed structure and key personnel. The person responsible for paying the sanction fee will be Hussain Makkawi listed above.