MUST-READS

• Saudi Arabia Pushes Deeper Into Entertainment With New Film Fund

  A Saudi Arabian investment firm is setting up a $100 million fund to invest in the kingdom’s film industry, one of the first such bets on the region’s fastest-growing movie production markets. The Saudi Film Fund, a partnership between MEFIC Capital and Roaa Media Ventures, will collaborate with major international studios and “provide content that reflects Saudi culture and values,” according to a statement Monday.

• Year in review: How Saudi Arabia made its mark in tech, tourism, diplomacy and entertainment in 2023

  Saudi Arabia will look back on 2023 as a year of triumphs, having hosted major events in the fields of technology, culture, sport and diplomacy, while continuing on its path of impressive economic expansion and diversification. In the past 12 months, the Kingdom has played host to sports stars, tech experts, fashionistas, and music and movie legends. Having secured its bid to host World Expo 2030, Saudi Arabia has a lot to celebrate as it enters the new year.

• Qiddiya: The future epicenter of entertainment, sports, and culture

  At the heart of Qiddiya’s vision is the Gaming and Esports District. This world-first mixed-use gaming and esports hub is set to become a global magnet for gaming enthusiasts. It will host major events like the Esports World Cup and house the regional headquarters of leading video game companies. The district will include four dedicated esports venues, including one with the largest indoor LED screen in any esports arena and another among the top three largest esports venues globally.

• NEOM announces Utamo as it unveils stunning Saudi entertainment venue
  NEOM has unveiled Utamo, its immersive destination for art and entertainment in Saudi Arabia. An innovative event space to host global artists, Utamo is the latest destination to be announced by the sustainable regional development evolving in northwest Saudi Arabia.
  Situated in a mountain located along the Gulf of Aqaba coastline, Utamo creates a unique backdrop for music events, exhibitions, and art activations that will offer unique entertainment experiences.

• Saudi Arabia to develop $347m entertainment destination in Aseer

  Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has launched a 1.3 billion Saudi riyal ($346.6 million) entertainment destination in the Aseer region as part of the kingdom's diversification efforts.

  The development, Seven Abha, is spread across 64,000 square metres with a built-up area of more than 79,000 square metres, and is the company's fifth such project in the kingdom, Seven said on Sunday.

  Located between the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait, it is designed by global architecture firm Gensler, while Modern Building Leaders has been appointed to carry out the construction work.

• The Evolution of Entertainment in Saudi Arabia

  When I curiously asked some of my Saudi friends about their fondest memories growing up across the Kingdom, many of them mentioned ‘Kashtah’ – a family picnic in the desert. “We used to go a day earlier to scout the best location in the desert for our family to drive to the next day – a space away from the city lights and animals and close to a water source. It used to be the most awaited overnight gathering of the year when the weather was not too cold or too hot.” These days it’s common for Saudi families even during weekdays to pitch a mini tent right next to their cars off the roads, hang cute fairy lights and bring out their coffee and tea pots to have a little chill time.

• TwentyOne Entertainment to Debut at Red Sea Film Festival

  TwentyOne Entertainment, a new acquisition and distribution company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, unveiled its formation on Tuesday, saying it will make its official debut at the upcoming Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah. The Saudi fest, running Nov. 30-Dec. 9, will feature Norah, the first movie on the company’s slate, in its competition lineup, as unveiled on Monday. “Our goal is to consistently deliver a high-quality cinematic entertainment experience and be an innovative leader in this fast-developing market,” said TwentyOne Entertainment CEO Paul Chesney, who previously held senior management roles at the likes of Universal and Disney, as well as technology start-ups. “We look forward to building strong partnerships throughout the region and around the world.”

• Saudi Binladin wins Seven entertainment hub contracts

  Saudi Binladin Group has won contracts worth around SR5bn ($1.3bn) from Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The contracts were awarded to build Seven’s two entertainment destinations in the Dammam and Alkhobar regions in the kingdom’s eastern province. The entertainment complex in Alkhobar will be built on reclaimed land on the waterfront. The complex spans around 300,000 square metres (sq m) and is also known as “The Waves”.

• Saudi entertainment giant Alamiya acquires Lyra Pictures in landmark deal

  Saudi entertainment company Alamiya has made a resounding announcement, marking a significant stride in the Middle East’s film production landscape. The company, with a heritage spanning five decades, has unveiled its acquisition of Lyra Pictures, a rising star in the film development arena. Founded in the 1970s, Alamiya initially ventured into cinema and television production to meet the demands generated by the oil boom, but later shifted its focus due to cinema bans in the region.

• Saudi entertainment events drew 135 million fans until mid-2023

  Entertainment events held across Saudi Arabia have attracted around 135 million people until mid-2023 this year, the kingdom’s entertainment agency has said, as the country is seeking to diversify its oil-reliant economy. The events were staged in 120 cities, according to head of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki Alalsheikh.

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