TKO executive chair and CEO Ari Emanuel confirmed that WWE Crown Jewel remains scheduled for November 7 in Saudi Arabia, though the company is considering contingency plans amid ongoing security concerns in the region.
The premium live event is set to take place in Riyadh, but Emanuel said TKO has a dedicated team monitoring developments daily and examining alternative locations if the company needs to relocate the show.
Speaking to Fox News’ Bret Baier on Thursday, Emanuel was asked whether Crown Jewel would proceed as planned, particularly after warnings from the US State Department that American businesses could become targets.
“Right now, everything’s still set,” Emanuel said. “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’s been canceled.”
Emanuel’s comments indicate that TKO is continuing preparations for its upcoming events despite the uncertainty surrounding the security situation. However, the company is also considering how it would respond if circumstances prevented Crown Jewel from taking place in Riyadh.
Ari Emanuel CEO of WWE speaks on the upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia for Crown Jewel:
“Right now everything is set”
“Nothing has been canceled”
“We have a whole team monitoring the situation, if it doesn’t happened where we can move it, it’s a daily monitoring” pic.twitter.com/7qtV8cqetu
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) October 23, 2026
WWE Crown Jewel Relocation Plans Under Consideration
Bret Baier later asked Ari Emanuel whether TKO was receiving government briefings on the situation and whether the company would decide to move the event under certain circumstances. Emanuel confirmed that a team was actively assessing developments and considering alternative arrangements.
“Yeah, we have a whole team kind of working on this, and kind of when, and if that doesn’t happen, where we can move it,” Emanuel explained. “It’s a daily monitoring.”
While Emanuel did not identify any replacement venues or cities, his comments confirm that TKO is preparing to move Crown Jewel if necessary. The situation comes as the US State Department continues to issue security warnings concerning potential threats to American interests and businesses.
Despite those concerns, TKO has not announced any changes to Crown Jewel, and Emanuel stressed that none of the company’s upcoming events has been cancelled. The November 7 premium live event therefore remains scheduled for Riyadh, with TKO continuing to evaluate the security situation as the date approaches.
