Entertainment visitors of Saudi Arabia at 16 million for Q2 2024

Saudi Arabia has witnessed a surge in the number of entertainment visitors.

According to a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) release, the kingdom received more than 16 million visitors who attended entertainment events. Specifically, for the second quarter of 2024. In 2023, the country only received 7 million visitors in the same period, translating to a 130 percent increase.

Entertainment licenses

In particular, Saudi authorities issued 1,529 entertainment licenses in the second quarter of the year. This equated to a 7.3 percent increase in the number of licenses versus 1,425 licenses in 2023. This was based on the data reported by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA).

It’s important to note that among the licenses, 523 of these were for live shows at coffee shops and restaurants. In addition, the Saudi government also issued 97 new licenses for entertainment establishments.

Entertainment sector: Moving away from petroleum

The GEA also reported that in 2023, Saudi Arabia received 72 million entertainment visitors among 117 cities.

This increase in entertainment visitors Saudi Arabia’s ambition of diversifying its investments away from petroleum wealth. In line with this, the kingdom has concentrated on developing various infrastructure that will attract tourists.

Accordingly, Saudi Arabia has also boosted its efforts in developing the entertainment industry. It has hosted and made available many movies, concerts, shows, competitions, sporting events. These have contributed to drawing both domestic and international tourists.

About the GEA

Saudi authorities established the GEA in 2016 to organize various festivals and activities. For example, it is one of the entities behind the annual Riyadh Season.

According to an Arab News article, the GEA initially received skepticism if it would perform well. This is because at the time, Saudi Arabia was just beginning its efforts to boost its entertainment and tourism sector.

The Saudi Vision 2030

Under the country’s Vision 2030 program, the kingdom has embarked on a mission to go into strategic investments and initiatives. Specifically, it hopes to generate USD 64 billion (SAR 240 billion) for its economy and create more than 100,000 jobs.

Boston Consulting Group managing director and partner Devanshu Mathur remarked, “Driven by the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s entertainment landscape has flourished rapidly.”

“This transformation was initiated by the reopening of cinemas across the Kingdom in 2018, followed by the establishment of various entertainment offerings in 2019, such as Saudi Seasons and Boulevard Riyadh City, and the introduction of annual live music events like MDL Beast,” he added.

For example, since Saudi Arabia opened its first cinematic hall in 2018, the kingdom’s entertainment sector has generated USD 240 million (over SAR 900 million).

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