
Upcoming Riyadh Season to feature more Saudi and Gulf content, says GEA chairman
GEA Chairman Turki Alalshikh on Wednesday said the Season will feature for the first time the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which will take place at Boulevard City in Riyadh from September 26 to October 9. The event will feature over 50 of the world's most renowned comedians, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Following the major success of last year's season, Riyadh is currently experiencing an unprecedented entertainment movement, such as hosting the Esports World Cup — the largest esports tournament in the world — with a prize pool exceeding $70 million and drawing significant global attention.
Alalshikh said the season's activities will continue to accelerate week after week.
Among the global events being lined up are music concerts, football matches, boxing bouts, UFC fights, and a WWE showcase, the GEA chief said.
Wrestling fans can look forward to the 'Royal Rumble' taking place in January, the SPA quoted him as saying.
Alalshikh added that more surprises will be announced soon, including events in collaboration with global YouTube star MrBeast and the "Six Kings Slam" tennis tournament, which will bring together the world's top six players to compete for the largest prize in the sport's history — following the major success of last year's edition.
Riyadh Season is an annual entertainment festival held in the Kingdom's capital, a major initiative aimed to boost tourism and diversify the Saudi economy, as part of the country's Vision 2030 initiative.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
14 minutes ago
- Arab News
Saudi media minister, SRMG CEO discuss plans for Saudi sports coverage
LONDON: Saudi Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary met with Joumana Rashed Al-Rashed, CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group, on Sunday to discuss upcoming developments in the broadcast coverage of Saudi sports, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The meeting came after SRMG subsidiary Thmanyah Company for Publishing and Distribution was awarded the broadcasting rights for domestic sports competitions. Arab News is also part of SRMG. Thmanyah CEO Abdulrahman Abumalih also attended the meeting, where officials reviewed the readiness of digital and television broadcasting for Saudi sports events. Discussions included progress on studio infrastructure, deployment of innovative technology, content strategy, publishing platforms, and the timeline for channel launches. Thmanyah, acquired by SRMG in 2021, has grown from producing in-house podcasts like 'Fnjan' into one of the region's most influential platforms, encompassing podcasts, radio, and editorial content. In a significant development last month, Thmanyah secured exclusive regional broadcast rights to the Saudi Pro League beginning with the 2025–26 season. The deal also covers the King Cup, the Saudi Super Cup, and the First Division League through the 2030–31 season. Al-Dossary said the Ministry of Media is fully mobilized to support the coverage of all Saudi sports competitions, aiming to strengthen the Kingdom's presence in global sports and meet the aspirations of fans. The meeting is part of a broader series of discussions between the ministry, SRMG, and other media institutions. These engagements aim to align media efforts, enhance content quality, and support Vision 2030's objective of building a strong, influential national media sector.


Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi PIF named most valuable and fastest-growing sovereign wealth fund
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has been named the most valuable and fastest-growing sovereign wealth fund in the world, with a brand value of $1.2 billion, a new report showed. According to Brand Finance's 2025 Asset Management and Sovereign Wealth Fund 50 report, PIF also secured seventh place globally in brand value-to-assets under management ratio, making it the only SWF to enter the top 10 across both asset management and SWF categories. PIF's strong brand growth reflects its ranking as the fourth-largest sovereign wealth fund globally, as reported in Global SWF's July update. With assets under management exceeding $1 trillion, the fund now ranks just behind Norway's Government Pension Fund Global and two Chinese entities — the State Administration of Foreign Exchange and the China Investment Corporation — surpassing regional peers such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Kuwait Investment Authority. The report from Brand Finance also highlighted the role of high-profile sports partnerships in elevating brand value. 'In 2024, PIF signed groundbreaking global partnerships accelerating the growth of sports with ATP and WTA tennis, Concacaf and Formula E, Extreme E and E1 under the E360 umbrella while its ownership of LIV Golf is helping to expand the game's audience around the world,' Brand Finance CEO David Haigh said. PIF's brand growth was underpinned by strong scores in brand awareness, purpose, and its commitment to long-term value creation. It has seen substantial expansion in its portfolio, driven by the maturation of key projects and robust performance from its portfolio companies. The Saudi wealth fund holds an A+ brand strength rating, with its Brand Strength Index rising to 62.9 out of 100 in 2025. Additionally, PIF's ownership of LIV Golf continues to expand the game's global audience and bolster its brand visibility. BlackRock retained its position as the world's most valuable asset management brand for the second consecutive year, with its brand value rising 17 percent to $8.3 billion, according to the Brand Finance report. The increase is attributed to a surge in AUM, strategic acquisitions in private markets, and sustained leadership in technology and artificial intelligence. In the asset management space, JP Morgan Asset Management ranked second globally with a brand value just under $7.2 billion, reflecting a 3 percent year-on-year increase. Vanguard held third place with a brand value of $6 billion, unchanged from 2024. While BlackRock trails JP Morgan in terms of brand strength — scoring 87 out of 100 to JP Morgan's 87.6 — both firms retained an AAA brand strength rating. Haigh noted the strategic importance of sports affiliations in brand development. 'Formula 1 and football are powerful and popular ways for asset managers and sovereign wealth funds to raise their international profiles in a way that is consistent with the brands' wealth and stature,' Haigh said. He cited JP Morgan's banking unit Chase's recent sponsorship of Arsenal FC's VIP Lounge as an example of how these investments can significantly boost brand recognition among targeted audiences. Among sovereign wealth funds, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority was identified as the strongest brand in terms of BSI, with a score of 64.1, also earning an A+ rating. PIF remains the leader in overall brand value within the SWF category, reflecting the fund's expanding global influence and strategic visibility.


Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
OpTic Gaming scoop Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 title at 2025 Esports World Cup
RIYADH: OpTic Gaming have won the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 contest at the 2025 Esports World Cup, beating Vancouver Surge 4-0 in the final to become the 11th unique champion at the tournament. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The American team, which finished in the top four last year, beat Vancouver Surge in a best-of-seven matchup on Sunday without dropping a game, having also beaten them in the Call of Duty League Championship final a few weeks ago. The tournament, which is one of the biggest on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 calendar, had 18 of the world's best teams battle for a prize pool of over $1.8 million. OpTic Gaming took home $600,000 and qualified for the EWC in 2026. This is their first world title, and welcome relief after facing a tough start to the 2025 season. Struggling to overcome those difficulties, OpTic made two changes for this year's event, bringing in Cuyler 'Huke' Garland and Mason 'Mercules' Ramsey, who both pulled off big performances to help win the trophy. 'Well, last time we played them, we knew we probably should have won 5-1, so we just honed in on our mistakes and made that look easy,' said Ramsey. 'Honestly, once we won against Team Heretics, we knew we were winning it as long as we just played our game. Definitely proud of myself, super thankful to my teammates. You guys are the best in the world.' Anthony 'Shotzzy' Cuevas-Castro was named the SONY MVP and will receive an additional $10,000. 'Undeniably, the players on this team are unbelievably talented,' he said. 'It feels like we are cheating at times.' OpTic Gaming earns 1000 Club Championship points for their victory and are in joint ninth place.