"I think the links between Newcastle and Saudi Arabia aren't bad. We are only helping residents" says Council chief

The city’s links to the Gulf state have become a major talking point since Newcastle United’s takeover in 2021 by a consortium led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), with human rights campaigners alleging that the kingdom is using the football club to “sportswash” its international image.

Those concerns have been highlighted recently by the Magpies’ historic Carabao Cup win, particularly with club chairman and PIF governor Yasir al-Rumayyan pictured holding the trophy aloft at Wembley alongside the NUFC players.

Supporters opposing the PIF’s involvement at St James’ Park have branded the cup triumph a “tainted victory”, highlighting cases like that of Manahel al-Otaibi – the Saudi fitness instructor serving an 11-year prison sentence for promoting women’s rights and posting photos of herself on social media without wearing traditional clothing.

Council chief executive Pam Smith was part of a UK delegation to Riyadh last May, for a trade and investment summit where Newcastle was pitched as the “gateway to Saudi”.

In an interview with the the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) last week, she argued that not pursuing such investment opportunities on human rights grounds would be “narrowing what you can do for residents” on Tyneside.

Mrs Smith said: “You have to keep in mind why you are doing these things. You are doing them to make Newcastle where it should be. It should be recognised as a global city where everyone can thrive.

“And you have to look at propositions… Are they the right quality? Is it right for the city? What are our residents going to get out of it?

“You have to keep those principles and as for international diplomacy, I will leave that to others who are more qualified.”

While the kind of massive Saudi investment into regeneration projects on Tyneside has yet to materialise in the way many had expected following the takeover, there is much speculation surrounding the potential development of a new football stadium.

The PIF has also been rumoured to be interested in buying a stake in Newcastle International Airport, while Newcastle University has been promised a “leading role” in a  Joint International Institute for Clean Hydrogen backed by a consortium of Saudi and British universities.

City council leader Karen Kilgour said she had “not had any conversations with any developers from Saudi, but that is not to say developers will not come forward” and that each case “will be taken on its individual merits”.

The Labour councillor has repeatedly argued that it is for the UK Government, not a local council, to raise human rights issues with Saudi Arabia, a nation that reportedly executed more than 300 people in 2024.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was joined by North East mayor Kim McGuinness on a visit to the Middle East in December during which he met with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, has described Saudi Arabia as a “key partner”.

Coun Kilgour added: “It would matter to residents [in Newcastle] if investment did not come forward because we had taken a stance that was at odds with the Government, investors, and everyone else.”

The council leader met in February with a delegation of leading human rights activists, including campaigners whose family members have been jailed and “forcibly disappeared”, concerned about Newcastle’s relationship to Saudi Arabia.

Human rights organisation ALQST, which was represented at that meeting, said that there “are many ways that the council could use its leverage vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia, from public acts of solidarity with victims, to private diplomacy with officials”.

Its deputy director, Josh Cooper, added: “It’s very disappointing that they remain until now unwilling to do so, claiming it isn’t in their remit. This not only serves to belittle the role of the council, but also appears to be based on highly selective reasoning.”

Critics have pointed out that the city council previously agreed to cut its ties with a sister city in China because of alleged human rights abuses against the Uyghur population.

John Hird, of the NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing (NUFCFAS) group, told the LDRS that North East politicians seeking to “palm off concerns about human rights towards the national government is just not good enough or consistent”.

NUFCFAS has vowed to pressure the council to be “more transparent” about dealings with the Saudi regime, saying: “The council is capable of condemning torture in China but says nothing about the torture capital of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia.”

They added: “We would ask, is it right for the city that our reputation is being dragged through the mud because of our elected politicians’ ever closer relationship with the Saudi regime?”

Click here to learn more about NewcastleWorld: Essential, our weekly newsletter, delivering the city’s headline highlights to your inbox

Coun Kilgour said: “From our point of view, our relationship is with the club and not the owners. I have never met the owners and am not likely to meet the owners. Our relationship is with those people involved in the day-to-day running of the club, so it is a very different conversation then.

“Our position has not changed, in that we wholeheartedly condemn any human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else in the world. But there is something about understanding diplomacy also, and those conversations need to happen at a national level – recognising what sort of influence a leader of a council may or may not have.”

She added: “It is not a bold statement, but that diplomacy is probably a better way of achieving change longer term.”

The PIF was contacted for a response.

Have you got a story you want to share with our readers? You can now send it to us online via YourWorld at https://www.yourworld.net/submit/ It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.