Entertainment
From The Report: Saudi Arabia 2023
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Saudi Arabia is witnessing a flourishing entertainment scene thanks to sweeping regulatory reforms in recent years. This sector is a high priority in the government’s economic diversification drive, aiming to cultivate local talent and stimulate job creation. The General Entertainment Authority has been established to drive sector growth, supporting entertainment-related start-ups and expanding the network of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – a core component of Vision 2030. The entertainment sector has grown rapidly, aligning with the broader diversification agenda. The Kingdom is becoming a regional centre for entertainment activities, hosting international events while expanding its portfolio of homegrown shows, festivals and events. Investment opportunities are expanding, and the focus on local content creation and SME development indicates sustained dynamism in this sector.

This chapter contains an interview with Turki Alalshikh, Chairman, General Entertainment Authority.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

In the spotlight: Reforms pave the way for investment and diversification in the entertainment and cultural spheres
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Sweeping regulatory reforms in recent years have led to the emergence of a flourishing entertainment scene in Saudi Arabia. The entertainment sector is considered a high priority in the government’s economic diversification drive and related efforts to cultivate a broad local talent pool and enhance the quality of life in the Kingdom. A dedicated entertainment regulatory body, the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), has been established to regulate and drive sector growth, and a growing range…

Analysis

Good game: The country’s largest sovereign wealth fund is playing a key role in the ongoing push into entertainment and sport
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The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is being harnessed to drive economic diversification. In addition to targeted investment in high-priority sectors, the PIF is developing a growing range of giga-projects and subsidiary entities with a focus on entertainment, sport and tourism. Four of those giga-projects – NEOM (see Innovation chapter), The Red Sea Project, ROSHN and the most recently announced, Diriyah – are integrated developments designed to drive growth across multiple sectors. Diriyah, a…

Interview

Raising the curtain: Turki Alalshikh, Chairman, General Entertainment Authority (GEA), on increasing the number of cultural and social events
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Interview:Turki Alalshikh What is your assessment of the performance of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector in recent years? TURKI ALALSHIKH: From 2019 until the first quarter of 2023 the entertainment industry saw significant momentum, with the Kingdom becoming a centre of economic, social and artistic activity. The sector presented over 8732 events spanning more than 76,000 activity days, encompassing a wide range of activities and live performances in restaurants and cafes. During this…