Depending on whether investors buy the soccer clubs as well as the land on which the clubs' assets are sited, the General Presidency of Youth Welfare could raise more than 5 billion Saudiriyals, according to the same member of the committee.
Kingdom Holding shares, which are only available to Saudi nationals and institutions, were trading at 21.70 riyals three years ago, according to the Saudi stock exchange, more than twice the current price of 9.25 riyals.
The fact that most Gulf currencies are already, in effect, pegged to each other means the benefits of union are limited compared with those in the EU. Travellers can already use Qatari riyals in a Saudi supermarket, for instance.