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With the entertainment industry expected to contribute around US$23bn to Saudi Arabia by 2030, it’s no wonder that SEA Expo continues to grow at pace with the rapidly expanding market. Here’s what to expect for its sixth edition this May
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 14 Mar 2024
SEA Expo 2024 will feature more than 350 exhibitors Credit: SEA Expo
With Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East attractions industry booming, the Saudi Entertainment and Amusement (SEA) Expo is now more important than ever as it enters its sixth edition.
Running this year from 7-9 May, the three-day event offers professionals the chance to network in a region to meet thousands of buyers and investors within Saudi Arabia’s lucrative and ever-expanding leisure and entertainment sector.
Hundreds of local and international brands from more than 40 countries are expected to be in attendance at this year’s event, taking place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre, with SEA Expo acting as a platform for its 350 exhibitors. With more than 10,000 people expected to attend the event, SEA is well established as the largest platform for international and local suppliers of entertainment leisure products and services in the region.
Running alongside the Saudi Light and Sound (SLS) Expo, this year’s show aims to highlight the Kingdom’s entertainment and leisure plans, as well as create opportunities to drive the country toward achieving its goals under its Vision 2030 plan.
For 2024, the event agenda will have several key focuses, which include exploring global investment strategies, understanding the next-generation market, empowering the Saudi workforce, embracing green entertainment and examining crypto technology.
Also running alongside the event, the SEA Summit will bring together the country’s leading private and public sector experts to spotlight the current climate, take on the industry’s challenges, and analyse future trends and predictions. Among this year’s speakers will be Ahmed Habib, president and CEO for Edrak for Edutainment Projects; Hind Galadari, head of Attractions & Ticketing Operations - Education & Culture, EXPO City; and Olivia Wyrick, director – Operations & Aquatics, Six Flags Qiddiya.
In the Kingdom, financial insights have revealed a need for a stronger focus on driving international business. Retaining and developing talent for the next generation has also emerged as a priority, with the sector aiming to contribute 3% - around US$23bn (€21.1bn, £18.4bn) - to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030, creating more than 100,000 jobs in the process.
“What’s happening in Saudi Arabia has never been done before in the attractions industry,” said Doug Stagner, executive director of attractions for Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) and an advisory board member for SEA.
“There are groundbreaking attractions and rides that have never been built before, and there are new concepts and ideas that will come out of Saudi Arabia, including discussions at this year’s Expo which will end up in other parts of the world, so what’s happening here has a much larger impact that extends beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia.”
For more information on this year’s Saudi Entertainment Expo, click here.
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