Latest news with #GEA
Leaders
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Upcoming Riyadh Season to Spotlight Saudi, Gulf Culture: Alalshikh
Building on previous years' success, the upcoming Riyadh Season 2025 promises an exciting array of events, showcasing rich Saudi, Gulf, and Syrian content. The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) aims to elevate the entertainment landscape in the Kingdom, ensuring a memorable experience for all attendees. New Highlights for 2025 GEA Chairman Turki Alalshikh announced that this year's season will introduce the Riyadh Comedy Festival. Scheduled from 26 September to 9 October at Boulevard City, this festival will feature over 50 renowned comedians from around the globe, marking a significant addition to the entertainment offerings in Riyadh. Following the remarkable success of last year's season, Riyadh is currently witnessing an unprecedented entertainment movement. The city recently hosted the Esports World Cup, the largest esports tournament worldwide. With a staggering prize pool exceeding $70 million, this event attracted significant global attention and participation. Alalshikh emphasized that the season's activities will accelerate week after week, ensuring continuous excitement for residents and visitors alike. A Diverse Lineup of Events Furthermore, the GEA has lined up a variety of global events, including music concerts, football matches, boxing bouts, UFC fights, and a WWE showcase. Wrestling fans can eagerly anticipate the 'Royal Rumble,' scheduled for January, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Alalshikh hinted at more surprises on the horizon, including collaborations with global YouTube star MrBeast. Additionally, the 'Six Kings Slam' tennis tournament will feature the world's top six players competing for the largest prize in the sport's history, following the major success of last year's edition, promising an exhilarating experience for tennis fans. Riyadh Season serves as an annual entertainment festival in the Kingdom's capital, with the aim to boost tourism and diversify the Saudi economy, aligning with the country's Vision 2030 goals. As the season approaches, excitement builds for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of culture and entertainment. Short link : Post Views: 9
Economy ME
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Economy ME
Upcoming Riyadh Season to feature rich Saudi and Gulf content, comedy festival: GEA chairman
Saudi Arabia's upcoming Riyadh Season is set to feature key events, global attractions as well as rich Saudi, Gulf, and Syrian content. Following the major success of last year's season, Turki Alalshikh, advisor and chairman of the board of directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), previewed the upcoming Riyadh Season, highlighting that the city is currently experiencing an unprecedented entertainment movement. Riyadh is hosting the Esports World Cup — the largest esports tournament in the world — with a prize pool exceeding $70 million and drawing significant global attention. He affirmed that the season's activities will continue to accelerate week after week. Riyadh Comedy Festival announced Aalshikh announced the launch of the highly anticipated Riyadh Comedy Festival in September, after unveiling some of the performers earlier today. More than 50 comedians and actors from various countries will participate, giving audiences the chance to enjoy international talent on the stages of Boulevard City. He added the upcoming Riyadh Season will feature a strong representation of Saudi and Gulf content, along with notable Syrian artistic contributions in plays and concerts. The season will also include global events such as music concerts, football matches, boxing bouts, UFC fights and a WWE showcase. Wrestling fans can look forward to the 'Royal Rumble' taking place in January. 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. (Source: SPA) Riyadh Season 2025 marks record-breaking success The fifth annual Riyadh Season received a record-breaking 20 million visitors, marking an unprecedented milestone since the event's inception in 2019, announced the Saudi General Entertainment Authority 's (GEA) chairman of the board of directors advisor, Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Al-Sheikh, in February. Riyadh Season has solidified its position as a global entertainment hub, attracting visitors from across the Kingdom and beyond. Popular destinations such as Boulevard World, Boulevard City and Boulevard Runway saw particularly high foot traffic this year, offering a diverse range of artistic performances, international games, fine-dining experiences and immersive cultural exhibits. In a report, Visa examined Riyadh Season 2025's impact on inbound tourism and the local economy, revealing a 47.6 percent annual increase in international visitors and substantial growth in spending. Riyadh welcomed over 500,000 Visa cardholders from around the world in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking an impressive 47.6 percent annual increase. Of these, 20,000 visitors attended Riyadh Season events. 'Riyadh Season is more than just entertainment – it is a catalyst for economic growth, and a key component of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 tourism goals,' said Ali Bailoun, regional general manager for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman at Visa. These insights underscore Riyadh Season 2025's pivotal role in accelerating Saudi Arabia's transition into a world-class tourism and entertainment hub, reinforcing the Kingdom's drive to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030. Read: Etihad Airways targets 21.5 million passengers and 18 new aircraft in 2025, says CEO Entertainment sector to contribute 4.2 percent of GDP by 2030 According to a report from the Ministry of Investment, the entertainment sector is expected to create 450,000 jobs by 2030 and contribute 4.2 percent of the gross domestic product. The sector has seen several record highs in the last five years, including attracting over SAR1 billion in total revenues and more than 75 million event attendees. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its economy and enhance the quality of life by promoting tourism and Saudi culture internationally to attract visitors. The entertainment sector is a crucial pillar in achieving these ambitious goals, with a focus on enhancing the quality of life through a variety of cultural and entertainment activities.
Arab News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Upcoming Riyadh Season to feature more Saudi and Gulf content, says GEA chairman
RIYADH: Plenty of global attractions are being planned for the upcoming Riyadh Season, with the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) promising that events will be rich in Saudi, Gulf and Syrian content. 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.
Leaders
2 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
GEA Launches "Entertainment Paths" to Empower Entrepreneurs in Entertainment Sector
The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has officially launched the 'Entertainment Paths' project, a strategic initiative designed to support and empower entrepreneurs within the entertainment and related industries. The project features a comprehensive digital platform that connects emerging and established business owners with a curated group of experts and specialists across various fields. This initiative aligns with GEA's broader efforts to foster entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia and contributes directly to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in the area of entertainment sector development. By creating a supportive environment for innovation and business growth, the GEA aims to enhance the sector's contribution to the national economy. Digital Hub, Expert Guidance 'Entertainment Paths' functions as an interactive online platform that brings together individuals, companies, and sector experts in a single virtual space. Users can register to book mentorship sessions with specialists in fields including: Event management Entertainment venue operations Live show marketing Talent development Crowd control Licensing and regulations Ticketing systems Participants can also submit questions and receive detailed responses regarding the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the entertainment industry. The platform is designed to improve entrepreneurs' chances of success by offering expert advice rooted in international best practices. This guidance aims to: Increase the number of entertainment venues Boost operational efficiency Strengthen the sustainability and scalability of entertainment projects Free Access, Inclusive Participation One of the key features of the initiative is its completely free access—open to both individuals and businesses, with no eligibility requirements. This ensures that all aspiring entrepreneurs can benefit from the platform regardless of their background or resources. Flexible Services and Networking Opportunities Services are available through the official platform website: Users can choose between virtual mentoring sessions and in-person events, creating greater flexibility and enabling more meaningful networking and collaboration opportunities within the sector. Key Benefits of Entertainment Paths Initiative Entrepreneurs and businesses that engage with the platform gain access to a range of benefits, including: Personalized mentorship from seasoned experts Support across all entertainment-related business functions Deeper insights into regulatory and compliance issues Strategic assistance to tackle operational challenges and scale their ventures 'Entertainment Paths' is part of a broader series of initiatives launched by GEA to enrich Saudi Arabia's business environment and cultivate national talent in the entertainment field. It reflects GEA's ongoing commitment to providing innovative, accessible, and results-oriented solutions that drive the growth of a diverse and sustainable entertainment industry. Related Topics : Saudi Arabia Announces Sunday First Day of Eid Al-Fitr 2025 Extended Vacation: IAC Expects Eid Al-Fitr 2025 to Start on March 31 Saudi Arabia Announces Sales Season for Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr King Salman, Crown Prince Congratulate Leaders of Islamic Countries on Eid Al-Fitr Advent Short link : Post Views: 9
Leaders
2 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
GEA Launches 'Entertainment Paths' to Empower Entrepreneurs in Entertainment Sector
The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has officially launched the 'Entertainment Paths' project, a strategic initiative designed to support and empower entrepreneurs within the entertainment and related industries. The project features a comprehensive digital platform that connects emerging and established business owners with a curated group of experts and specialists across various fields. This initiative aligns with GEA's broader efforts to foster entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia and contributes directly to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in the area of entertainment sector development. By creating a supportive environment for innovation and business growth, the GEA aims to enhance the sector's contribution to the national economy. Digital Hub, Expert Guidance 'Entertainment Paths' functions as an interactive online platform that brings together individuals, companies, and sector experts in a single virtual space. Users can register to book mentorship sessions with specialists in fields including: Event management Entertainment venue operations Live show marketing Talent development Crowd control Licensing and regulations Ticketing systems Participants can also submit questions and receive detailed responses regarding the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the entertainment industry. The platform is designed to improve entrepreneurs' chances of success by offering expert advice rooted in international best practices. This guidance aims to: Increase the number of entertainment venues Boost operational efficiency Strengthen the sustainability and scalability of entertainment projects Free Access, Inclusive Participation One of the key features of the initiative is its completely free access—open to both individuals and businesses, with no eligibility requirements. This ensures that all aspiring entrepreneurs can benefit from the platform regardless of their background or resources. Flexible Services and Networking Opportunities Services are available through the official platform website: Users can choose between virtual mentoring sessions and in-person events, creating greater flexibility and enabling more meaningful networking and collaboration opportunities within the sector. Key Benefits of Entertainment Paths Initiative Entrepreneurs and businesses that engage with the platform gain access to a range of benefits, including: Personalized mentorship from seasoned experts Support across all entertainment-related business functions Deeper insights into regulatory and compliance issues Strategic assistance to tackle operational challenges and scale their ventures 'Entertainment Paths' is part of a broader series of initiatives launched by GEA to enrich Saudi Arabia's business environment and cultivate national talent in the entertainment field. It reflects GEA's ongoing commitment to providing innovative, accessible, and results-oriented solutions that drive the growth of a diverse and sustainable entertainment industry. Related Topics : Saudi Arabia Announces Sunday First Day of Eid Al-Fitr 2025 Extended Vacation: IAC Expects Eid Al-Fitr 2025 to Start on March 31 Saudi Arabia Announces Sales Season for Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr King Salman, Crown Prince Congratulate Leaders of Islamic Countries on Eid Al-Fitr Advent Short link :
