WWE moves Crown Jewel 2026 in Riyadh from KAFD stadium to ANB Arena
WWE has shifted the venue for Crown Jewel 2026 in Riyadh from the open-air stadium in the King Abdullah Financial District to the indoor ANB Arena, a change announced by Riyadh Season on October 28 for the Premium Live Event due on November 7.
The show was originally planned for the open-air stadium in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and became the subject of debate while the final match lineup was being confirmed. The security situation in Saudi Arabia escalated after reports of missile and drone attacks, and the US State Department issued a travel advisory alongside security alerts from the US Embassy because of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi forces. Security Alert: U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia (October 30, 2026)Effective October 23, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks.Iranian-supported Houthis have…
Fightful Select reported the relocation was driven by security considerations rather than ticket-sales concerns. Reporter Dave Meltzer said the decision was tied to the assumption an indoor venue would be more secure and that managing entrance and access into an arena would be easier. The report also suggested WWE would work with a smaller team for the event.
The ANB Arena, also referred to as The Venue, will host the event indoors in Riyadh on November 7. The Crown Jewel card continues to list four announced matches: Roman Reigns vs Sami Zayn for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship; Liv Morgan vs Chelsea Green for the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship; Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match; and World Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker and Austin Theory defending against Penta and Je’Von Evans.
Reports indicated multiple WWE employees and talent had expressed concern about travelling to Saudi Arabia, and rumours circulated that several staff and roster members were unhappy with the company’s plans to proceed. Limited time before the scheduled November 7 event made relocating to a different city impractical. TKO President Mark Shapiro reportedly addressed employees at a town hall, stressing that their safety was paramount.
Ariel Helwani said he had been told the Power Slap production staff will fly into Bahrain and take a bus for five hours to Riyadh, adding, "This is the current plan unless the airport opens up further." The company is expected to return to the United States for Raw on November 9 in Greenville, South Carolina.
For now, WWE describes the venue switch as a precautionary move rather than a cancellation warning; Crown Jewel remains scheduled to take place in Riyadh on November 7, 2026, and the change affects only the arena within the city, not the host country.