TKO CEO Ari Emanuel comments on the status of WWE Crown Jewel.

The eighth annual WWE Crown Jewel Premium Live Event is scheduled to take place at Riyadh Season Stadium in KAFD, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, November 7, 2026. However, the recent attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group on King Khalid International Airport have cast uncertainty over the safety of talent, staff, and fans traveling into the region ahead of the show.

The U.S. State Department recently issued a security warning for Americans traveling to or from the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, to exercise “heightened vigilance.” The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh also instructed American citizens to exercise extreme caution when using airports in Saudi Arabia and check directly with airlines and airport authorities for updates.

PWInsider recently reported that WWE still plans to host Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia and has contingency plans in place, including hiring a security firm experienced in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Ari Emanuel Confirms WWE Crown Jewel Remains On Schedule

In a recent interview with Fox News to promote his memoir, TKO CEO Ari Emanuel addressed WWE Crown Jewel’s status. He said the event is still set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as planned.

“Right now, everything is still set. This weekend, coming up in Abu Dhabi, we have a UFC fight. We have, in the middle of November, a Frieze Art show. So far, so good. Nothing has been canceled.”

Emanuel was then asked if they were being briefed by the government and what they’d do in a scenario where they have to cancel the show. He said, “We have a whole team working on this. And if that doesn’t happen, we can move it. It’s a daily monitoring.”

Matches announced for WWE Crown Jewel so far:

• Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan vs. WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green – Women’s Crown Jewel Championship

• World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn – Men’s Crown Jewel Championship.