SEVEN chief highlights entertainment plans for Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Entertainment Ventures Company (SEVEN) is expected to serve more than 50 million visitors to its projects, provide more than 22,000 direct jobs and contribute to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP) SAR 8 billion by 2030, its chief executive said.

“Through our role as investor, developer and operator of various entertainment offerings Kingdom-wide, we aim to facilitate the presence of both international and local brands, and in doing so, become the national entertainment champion,” Bill Ernest said while delivering his keynote speech at today’s Middle East and North Africa Leisure & Attractions Council (MENALAC) Leisure, Entertainment and Attractions Conference 2019 in Dubai.

“Our offerings will create exciting new roles for ambitious young Saudi nationals. We will need to provide training in new skill sets. While employing locals, we also want to create friendly, awe-inspiring environments where Saudi nationals will want to spend quality time with their family and friends,” the former Disney executive and entertainment sector veteran added.

Earlier this month, the company, fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), sketched out plans for a massive multi-cluster family-friendly entertainment destination in Riyadh.

Each entertainment destination will feature a cinema, augmented reality activities, green open areas equipped for sports and aquatic activities, entertainment and live shows and dining venues.

“The Riyadh destination is planned as the first of many such family-friendly destinations, as part of the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030, a wide-reaching blueprint for diversification away from reliance on oil and gas revenues,” Ernest said.