From concert events to theme parks: How Saudi leisure is reshaping the non-oil financial system
RIYADH: Huge-scale concert events, scintillating theme parks, and a booming cinema trade are not novelties in Saudi Arabia, with them changing into tough engines of monetary diversification beneath Imaginative and prescient 2030, consistent with trade professionals.
Guided by means of the formidable program, Saudi Arabia is asserting itself as a regional hub within the leisure trade, attracting vacationers from in every single place the sector.
Having already surpassed the 100 million goal, Saudi Arabia’s Nationwide Tourism Technique objectives to draw 150 million guests by means of 2030, and the leisure sector is proving a key section in turning in this purpose.
In April, a record by means of the Normal Leisure Authority printed that Saudi Arabia’s leisure sector attracted over 89 million guests in 2025.
The authority highlighted that the field hosted 1,690 occasions, with a complete of 75,661 tournament days, and the participation of 6,778 firms around the sector’s actions all over 2025.
“The General Entertainment Authority and Ministry of Culture, established in 2016 and 2018, respectively, have catalyzed an entire ecosystem almost from scratch. The goal is not entertainment for its own sake, but the creation of a self-sustaining non-oil GDP contributor,” mentioned Khan.
Shahid Khan, Senior Spouse and World Head of Media, Leisure, Sports activities, and Tradition Follow at Arthur D. Little. (Equipped)
He added: “Not only are the Saudis visiting these concerts, theme parks and gaming events, but these events are a significant contributor in attracting regional and international tourists creating a meaningful impact throughout the value chain across venues, ticketing, production, hospitality, retail, F&B, media and tourism.”
Karim Sarkis, spouse at Technique& Heart East, a part of PwC community, argued that Imaginative and prescient 2030 became leisure from a luxurious matter to an financial pillar that drives investments, draws vacationers, and objectives to create 450,000 jobs.
“Saudi citizens once traveled abroad to experience world-class concerts, theme parks, and cultural events. Today, they find the best the world has to offer right at home, while international tourists flock to the Kingdom,” he mentioned.
“The Kingdom is not simply importing entertainment anymore; it is building experiences that can become part of its long-term economic identity,” added Gupta.
Cultural and regulatory shifts
The AG Occasions’ CEO belives the most important shift in Saudi Arabia used to be self belief — self belief from the federal government to open up and put money into the field, self belief from non-public firms to take part, and self belief from audiences to reinforce those new stories.
“At the same time, Saudi Arabia has a young and highly engaged population. This audience is digitally connected, exposed to global entertainment trends, and very open to new formats, whether it is concerts, esports, festivals, theme parks, or immersive experiences,” mentioned Gupta.
Ayush Gupta, CEO and founding father of AG Occasions. (Equipped)
In keeping with Arthur D. Little’s Khan, Saudi Arabia witnessed a very powerful cultural shift submit the release of Imaginative and prescient 2030, which is now paving manner for the Kingdom to emerge as a world leisure vacation spot.
“Just look at the film sector, there were no cinema screens before 2018 – today, Saudi Arabia’s box office ranks among the top 15 global markets,” he mentioned.
In 2025 on my own, cinemas in Saudi Arabia screened 538 motion pictures, producing revenues exceeding SR920.8 million ($245.4 million) and promoting round 18.8 million tickets.
This efficiency displays a rising target market base and emerging call for for native cinematic content material, underscoring the accelerating enlargement of the home movie marketplace.
From import to indigenous ecosystem
World names function “demand generators,” drawing crowds, sponsors, and international consideration, however long-term sustainability “requires Saudi and regional performers, producers, designers and technicians to build their legacy and create long-term value for the local ecosystem,” mentioned Khan.
He added: “Being part of these international platforms, local talent are exposed to the same local and global audiences. A generation of Saudi musicians, DJs, comedians, and creators is emerging with the infrastructure to support them for the first time.”
“The challenge will be to make sure local talent is not only included, but actively developed, promoted, and given the right professional support,” mentioned AG Occasions’ Gupta.
The expansion of homegrown skill — each in entrance of an target market and at the back of the scenes — can ship advantages past the level and display.
“Every successful entertainment destination at a global scale is sustained by cultural content,” mentioned Khan, including: “Theme parks succeed when they are not only licensed/imported templates. To sustain these venues beyond initial years, Saudi heroes and stories must replace generic Western IP that is critical for cultural identity, emotional connection, and repeat visitation.”
Gaming: From intake to introduction
Within the gaming and esports sector, Saudi ambitions are similarly daring. With a tender, digitally local inhabitants, the method — led by means of Savvy Video games Team and Qiddiya’s Gaming & Esports District — objectives to adapt from intake to introduction.
The district plans to host greater than 30 gaming firms and reinforce as much as 10 million visits every year, nurturing native builders, designers, and IP.
Sarkis mentioned: “Investments and events have been complemented by talent development programs and incentives for games studios. Projects such as Qiddiya’s gaming district will add venues on top of a world class broadband infrastructure. The national gaming strategy aims to add 39,000 jobs to the sector by 2030, and the country is on its way to that goal.”
In keeping with Gupta, gaming is without doubt one of the most powerful sectors within the Kingdom as it connects leisure, era, early life tradition, and international communities.
“The long-term goal is to move from being a consumer market to becoming a creator, investor, and global player in gaming. If the right talent and infrastructure continue to develop, Saudi Arabia can become a major gaming and esports hub not only for the region, but internationally,” he added.
Demanding situations at the horizon
Infrastructure can also be addressed thru funding, however seasonality — specifically harsh summer season stipulations for outside occasions — and the wish to steadiness modernization with cultural values require ongoing consideration.
“The talent gap is the most significant challenge in the Kingdom. Infrastructure can be built through investment, however creating world-class entertainment experiences requires deep pipelines of skilled professionals, and those skills take years to develop,” mentioned Khan.
He added: “The opportunity is that Saudi Arabia can design and develop these sectors from scratch, using technology, local content, and learn from other markets to adopt best practices.”
Gupta mentioned that Saudi Arabia must ensure that there are sufficient educated execs to reinforce this enlargement throughout manufacturing, era, ingenious products and services, tournament control, operations, protection, hospitality, and content material.
In regards to the long term outlook and alternatives, Sarkis mentioned that whilst the Kingdom has already established itself at the international leisure panorama, “the true enduring legacy will be a generation of successful Saudi creators, performers, gamers, and entrepreneurs proudly displaying their identity and exporting their culture to the world.”
