Riyadh Season 2024 has already welcomed over 6 million visitors, says Turki Alalshikh
Riyadh Season 2024, Saudi Arabia’s yearly entertainment and cultural festival, has welcomed six million visitors since it started on October 12, according to Turki Alalshikh, head of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA).
Riyadh’s Entertainment Festival
Riyadh Season has reached a new milestone just a week after welcoming over 4 million visitors, thanks to its wide range of activities and entertainment zones, according to organizers.
Popular areas like The Venue, Boulevard City, Boulevard World, Wonder Garden, Riyadh Zoo, and Al-Suwaidi Park played a big role in the festival’s success, the GEA announced on Saturday. The festival saw a huge number of visitors during the midterm school break, setting a new record.
As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to grow the economy beyond oil, Riyadh Season 2024 features top performances, international artists, large-scale events, and cultural exhibits, attracting visitors from around the world. The fifth edition of the event started in October 2024 and will continue until March 2025 in Riyadh.
In its first week, the GEA announced that Riyadh Season attracted two million visitors.
At a press conference in August, Alalshikh shared that Riyadh Season 2024 will have 10 festivals and exhibitions, 14 entertainment zones, and 11 international championships. He also mentioned that 4,200 contracts have been signed, with 2,100 local companies making up 95% of the participants this year.
The 2024 edition kicked off with a grand event, including performances by Busta Rhymes, Ciara, and Missy Elliott, as well as a light heavyweight boxing match between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivolon at Kingdom Arena. The arena, now 40% bigger, can hold over 27,000 people. In September, it also hosted the African Super Cup final between Egyptian football teams Al-Ahly and Zamalek.
Last week, Lebanese designer Elie Saab marked 45 years of his fashion brand with a glamorous celebration as part of Riyadh Season. The “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab” fashion show showcased 300 outfits and featured performances by stars like Amr Diab, Nancy Ajram, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, and Camila Cabello.
Big Numbers
Over 16 million people attended events in the second quarter of 2024, more than double the number from the same time last year, according to the GEA in August. The total number of licenses issued grew by 7.3% compared to last year, reaching 1,529.
A report by Mordor Intelligence predicts that Saudi Arabia’s entertainment and amusement market will be worth $2.55 billion in 2024. This market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10.44%, reaching over $4.2 billion by 2029.
Tourism Growth
Saudi Arabia’s entertainment and leisure sector, with events like Riyadh Season and the Saudi Winter calendar, has boosted tourism.
In the first half of 2024, Riyadh welcomed 1.3 million international tourists and 8.8 million domestic tourists, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Five-star hotels in Riyadh were over 97% full during the school break, the report added.
What to Look Forward To
- Famous Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins will perform a special musical piece at Riyadh Season 2024. Singers Assala, Abadi Al-Johar, and Muhammad Al Ahdal will also be performing.
- Boxing fans can get ready for the big rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, happening next month.
- Fashion lovers can visit the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition this week. It will showcase over 200 dresses, accessories, and documents from Dior’s archives, shown in the country for the first time.
- The Joy Awards, an event celebrating top talents, will happen in January.
- Riyadh will also host its first-ever Power Slap competition next year.
Published: 20th November 2024
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