Prince Fahd, Saudi Arabia's Chef de Mission for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, joins SAOC President and Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Alfaisal Al-Saud on the bid's leadership team.

Prince Fahd, a member of the Public Affairs and Social Development Commission of the International Olympic Committee who also sits on the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) International Relations Committee, said he was delighted to be appointed to the role.

"I am honoured to be driving Riyadh’s bid to host the 2030 Asian Games as director general under the patronage of Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Alfaisal Al-Sauda and I am committed to making every effort to be successful in our attempts to host Saudi Arabia's first ever Asian Games in our beautiful city," said Prince Fahd.

"Since we submitted our letter of intent to the OCA earlier this year, we have been dedicated to reimagining the model of the Asian Games and enabling the Asian Olympic Movement to connect with new audiences. 

"Riyadh 2030 will be a festival of sport for all of Asia to enjoy and a golden opportunity to drive long-lasting sporting, societal and cultural change in the region."

Saudi Arabia is locked in a fierce battle with regional rival Qatar for the right to host the flagship OCA event in a decade's time.

Both countries are bidding against a backdrop of international criticism over their human rights records.

The OCA is due to select its preferred host for 2030 at its General Assembly in Muscat on December 16.

The 2030 Asian Games race is a departure from the OCA's normal custom of deciding on its preferred city and electing it unopposed.

There is the added spice of a diplomatic crisis after Saudi Arabia led a blockade of Qatar in 2017, after accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

Both countries have described the bidding process as a "national priority".