Saudi Arabian state oil company Aramco is facing renewed scrutiny over its prominent commercial involvement in activities surrounding the FIFA World Cup. According to The Guardian, individuals connected to Aramco’s operations have described conditions in strongly negative terms.

According to reporting by The Guardian, published under the headline ‘This is a hellhole’, sources in proximity to Aramco-related activities characterised the environment in markedly critical language. The precise locations referenced and the identities of the individuals cited are not fully specified in the available source material.

Aramco, which is wholly owned by the Saudi Arabian government, has significantly expanded its international sponsorship portfolio in recent years. Its association with major sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup, has prompted ongoing public debate regarding the practice commonly referred to as ‘sportswashing’ — the use of high-profile sporting partnerships to enhance the international standing of a state or corporate entity.

The party could not be reached for comment.

The criticism directed at Aramco forms part of a broader discourse concerning the role of Saudi state-affiliated entities in global sport. Human rights organisations have repeatedly drawn attention to labour conditions and civil liberties within Saudi Arabia in the context of the kingdom’s expanding investments in international sporting competitions and institutions.