AC Milan and Al Hammadi Holding announce the launch of a long-term collaboration which, for the first time in the Club's history, places the MilanLab model at the core of an international partnership. The aim is to promote innovation in sports medicine in Saudi Arabia and contribute to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in the areas of health, wellbeing, and skills development.
MilanLab is the centre of excellence and the engine of innovation in research and development applied to performance and sports medicine within the Rossonero organisation. After revolutionising the football sector in the early 2000s with a pioneering approach to collecting health and performance data, since 2021 it has embarked on a significant global renewal with a strong scientific focus, aimed at enhancing the analysis and use of information to support medical and athletic management.
Al Hammadi Holding, one of the leading healthcare operators in Saudi Arabia and now AC Milan's Official Medical & Rehabilitation Partner and Regional Partner in the country, intends to leverage the technical capabilities and expertise of Rossoneri professionals to build specialist skills, methodologies, operational protocols and an evidence-based scientific culture inspired by the MilanLab model. The collaboration will lead to the creation of Saudi Arabia's first centre of excellence dedicated to sports medicine, rehabilitation, return-to-activity pathways and performance enhancement. The clinic will serve as a new starting point, from which the project's impact will be expanded further across the region, contributing meaningfully to the development of the local healthcare system.
The partnership strengthens AC Milan’s positioning and presence in a strategic market where, according to GWI data, the Club is the most supported Italian team in Saudi Arabia. In this direction, the recent inauguration of a new AC Milan Academy in Jeddah also aligns with the Club's long-term commitment aimed at creating sporting, educational and social value.
Maikel Oettle, Chief Revenue Officer of AC Milan, commented: "We are delighted to embark on this journey alongside Al Hammadi Holding, a partnership that looks to the future, built upon the uniqueness and expertise of MilanLab. It is a model that reflects our Club's ability to innovate continuously and to set new standards with authority and competence. This collaboration highlights the strategic importance for AC Milan of a key market such as Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the Rossoneri's footprint in a region rich in passion for our colours and home to organisations with which we have built deep connections."
Mohammed Saleh Al Hammadi, CEO of Al Hammadi Holding, said: "With over forty years of leadership in the Saudi healthcare sector, Al Hammadi is committed to driving innovation and elevating standards of care in the Kingdom. Hosting this centre of excellence within one of our next-generation hospitals represents a major step toward shaping the future of sports medicine and rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia. By partnering with AC Milan and integrating the MilanLab methodology, we expect to build local capabilities, develop specialised talent, and support the goals of Vision 2030 in health, wellbeing and human capital development."
