The biggest reason Saudi Arabia cannot be taken lightly as a potential winter sports power is its financial might. Since the oil-rich country is still at least a couple years away from providing access to ski slopes within its borders, the Saudi government has spared no expense housing winter sports athletes in Europe for months at a time.

Fayik Abdi, Saudi Arabia’s pioneering alpine ski racer and Brand Ambassador of Sahm Capital, has officially qualified to represent the Kingdom at the 20