Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is set to host a conference to match the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 plans.
Running from September 3-5 and organised by Lebanese firm Advanced Conferences and Meetings, Entertainment KSA aims to provide an international platform to bring together stakeholders such as key government ministries and authorities, regional and international consultants, retail developers, operators and suppliers to FECs, amusement parks and cinemas to discuss how to grow the develop the country’s entertainment sector and offer leisure opportunities for all citizens and tourists.
The event is driven by the 2030 Vision that was announced in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, which plans to reform the country by reducing its dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public services, recreation and tourism.
One of the key pillars in the project is to improve the quality of life of the Saudi people and growing young population by providing high-standard entertainment and leisure opportunities for them. Saudis spend US$7.4bn outside of the Kingdom annually and this is something the government wishes to keep within its borders.
To help achieve this, the General Entertainment Authority has been established, into which over US$2bn have already been invested. The GEA has a mandate to provide full entertainment offerings aligned with global standards, which are available across the Kingdom and accessible to all segments of society.
Since the announcement of the project, there has already been a number of major developments including the legalisation of cinemas, a large sports, culture and entertainment complex, of 334sq.km at Al-Qidiya, south-west of Riyadh which will include a Six Flags theme park.
A Dubai-style beach resort is also proposed to be built on the Red Sea between the towns of Umluj and Al-Wajh in the northern section of the Hejazi coast, featuring 50 islands over a 34,000sq.km area. A statement by the Saudi Public Investment Fund proclaimed that the resort will be an “upmarket tourism and leisure mega-development” and will be "governed by laws on par with international standards."
