Middle East

Saudi Arabia seeks to expand entertainment landscape

Author: ARAB NEWSWed, 2018-03-28 04:16ID: 1522190810862907500

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabias General Entertainment Authority (GEA) is to host a summit at a Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles to attract events to the Kingdom.
The summit will explore the role of entertainment in enhancing the quality of life and providing investment and employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
It will be opened with an address from GEA Chairman Ahmed Al-Khatib.
GEA CEO Faisal Bafarat said: “The summit is designed to educate and advance creative industry opportunities. Were committed to expanding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias entertainment landscape, supported with private/public partnerships while attracting local and international investors to help foster exciting new partnerships to benefit our growing millennial population.”
More than two-thirds of the countrys 32 million population are under the age of 30.
In his interview last week on 60 Minutes, the CBS television networks flagship current-affairs program, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman detailed Vision 2030 plans to re-introduce all forms of entertainment to the Kingdom after decades of austerity imposed by extreme religious conservatism.
After the opening keynote address, the importance of entertainment to society and the economy will be discussed. Those taking part include government leaders from the delegation accompanying the crown prince on his seven-city official tour of the US, as well as business investors.
The summit will take place on April 4 at the Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills.
The GEA was established by a royal decree in May 2016 to define a new entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia and oversee its growth, while also safeguarding customs and traditions.
Saudis currently spend $22 billion a year on tourism and entertainment — all of it outside the country.
Since the GEA was created, it has been announced that cinemas are to open after a ban lasting more than three decades and deals are being discussed to open amusement parks and stage hit shows such as Cirque du Soleil and The Lion King.
The crown princes visit to the US, which runs until April 7, has brought American companies to the table to discuss working with their Saudi counterparts.

Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaEntertainment in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Crown Prince Royal Tourrelated_nodes: Narcos Pablo turns hero at Saudi Comic Con, welcomes Kingdoms moment of changeJeddah revels at Kingdom's largest jazz festivalArab icons Assala Nasri, Nawal El-Kuwaitia set for Saudi concerts

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