TKO CEO Ari Emanuel Confirms WWE Crown Jewel Proceeds in Riyadh Amid Security Monitoring

TKO Executive Chair and CEO Ari Emanuel told Fox News’ Bret Baier that WWE Crown Jewel remains scheduled for November 7 in Riyadh, adding that a TKO team is actively monitoring the situation daily and evaluating alternative locations if necessary.

Speaking Thursday, Emanuel reiterated that the event is still set for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and confirmed that TKO has personnel tracking developments daily to determine where the show could be relocated if required.

When Baier asked whether the event would proceed, citing U.S. State Department warnings that American businesses could be targets, Emanuel responded directly.

“Right now, everything’s still set,” Emanuel said. “This coming weekend in Abu Dhabi, we have a UFC fight. We have a Frieze art show in mid-November. So far, so good. Nothing has been canceled.”

Baier followed up by asking whether Emanuel is receiving government briefings and whether there is a scenario in which TKO would pull the show.

“Yes, we have a whole team working on this,” Emanuel said. “They are determining where we can move it if that doesn’t happen. It is a daily monitoring process.”

Crown Jewel is scheduled for November 7 at Riyadh Season Stadium. As of this writing, WWE has not announced any changes to the event. The UFC fight Emanuel referenced is UFC 333, set for Saturday, October 24, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski versus Movsar Evloev.

The U.S. State Department advised Americans in the Middle East on Monday to exercise heightened vigilance, citing Houthi attacks on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia. UFC CEO Dana White said last weekend that the UFC’s December 5 event in Riyadh remains on schedule. TKO owns both WWE and the UFC.

WWE is also scheduled to hold WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh in April 2027.

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