5 days ago
Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector surges as Platinumlist marks decade of massive growth
Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector is undergoing a dramatic transformation, with its market projected to reach $4.63 billion by 2030.
Platinumlist, the premier ticketing platform operating across the Middle East, has released a new report detailing a decade of change in Saudi Arabia's event landscape – highlighting evolving consumer behavior, digitalization and the rise of immersive formats.
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Fueled by Vision 2030 and the General Entertainment Authority's push for private-sector participation, more than 3,700 businesses are now engaged in the Kingdom's entertainment industry.
Platinumlist, which opened its first office in Saudi Arabia ten years ago, said it has invested $27.9 million in technology and local talent since entering the market.
'Vision 2030 and its initiatives have been instrumental in transforming Saudi Arabia's tourism industry in all sectors, such as Sport, entertainment, and business sectors,' Moayad Qudus, Senior Business Development Manager at Platinumlist, told Al Arabiya English.
From concerts to culture hubs
Public events in Saudi Arabia have evolved far beyond the Arabic pop concerts that dominated the market in 2016 and 2017, according to Platinumlist.
Today, no single category leads, with experiential formats such as immersive zones and seasonal festivals accounting for 24 percent of events, followed by Arabic music and concerts (23 percent), family content (13 percent), youth-focused segments (13 percent), and business conferences (3 percent).
Flagship events like Formula 1, Riyadh Season's Winter Wonderland, and the Diriyah Biennale have helped elevate the Kingdom's global profile, while inbound tourist spending reached approximately $40.95 billion in 2024, the platform highlighted in its report.
Immersive tech and entertainment destinations
Saudi Arabia is moving beyond individual events to create multi-purpose entertainment destinations, Platinumlist's report revealed.
Locations like Qiddiya and AlUla blend music, art, and outdoor experiences into a single venue. Digital innovation – including AI-driven personalization, AR/VR integration, and smart crowd control – is now standard.
'The integration of culture, creativity, and cutting-edge tech is shaping once-in-a-lifetime experiences that define Saudi's unique entertainment identity,' Qudus said.
'By opening the market to private investment and building world-class venues across the Kingdom, these programs have driven growth and diversity in the entertainment sector,' he told Al Arabiya English.
'Looking ahead, continued public–private collaboration and a focus on immersive, technology-driven experiences will further reinforce Saudi Arabia's position as a global entertainment hub.'
Shifting consumer habits
Consumer habits have also shifted sharply in recent years, according to Platinumlist.
In 2017, 73 percent of buyers planned events weeks in advance.
Today, 31 percent purchase tickets just hours or days ahead, with mobile transactions now representing over 70 percent of all sales. Saudi Arabia was the first GCC country to implement mobile ticketing with dynamic QR codes, which Platinumlist said has reduced fraud by 85 percent.
Ticket affordability has also improved, the platform said.
The average order value dropped from $373 in 2018 to about $66.65 in 2025, opening access to a wider audience that includes students, families, and younger demographics, the report stated.
A decade of milestones
Platinumlist now partners with over 300 organizers across Saudi Arabia, including the Ministry of Culture, the Saudi Motorsport Company and the Esports Authority.
The company has supported ticketing for more than 1,500 events nationwide, underlining its role in the Kingdom's entertainment evolution.
With the entertainment sector expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 10.44 percent, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself not just as a regional leader, but as a global destination for world-class experiences.
