SEA Expo Connex 2026 will convene a select, senior-level group of decision-makers from across the operator, developer, investor, supplier and government communities for two days of conference programming and connections designed to bring operators and suppliers together.
Attendees will also get exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Kingdom's leading entertainment destinations.
Organised by dmg events, which also runs the region's established Saudi Entertainment & Amusement (SEA) Expo, SEA Expo Connex is a separate, standalone event.
While SEA Expo brings together the sector's wider ecosystem, Connex is designed for senior decision-makers, with invitation-only attendance and a carefully curated programme.
It centres on networking among the suppliers and operators shaping the sector, and on one key question: how industry leaders will operate, sustain and grow what is being built today.
See also: From SEA Expo to Connex: a new approach to Saudi Arabia’s attractions market
A focus on the sector's next phase of growth
The summit programme takes place across two of Qiddiya City's newly opened flagship attractions: Six Flags Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia's first theme park of its kind, and Aquarabia Qiddiya City, the Middle East’s largest water theme park.
Delegates will hear from the teams responsible for developing and operating both destinations, then join guided tours of Six Flags Qiddiya City on day one and Aquarabia Qiddiya City on day two.
Built around three pillars, Connect, Experience and Learn, the programme features sessions on destination development, investment, policy and operations.
Confirmed participants include senior representatives from organisations such as Al Othaim Entertainment, MDLBEAST and Miral Experiences, alongside operators, developers and investors shaping the Kingdom's entertainment landscape.
SEA Expo Connex will also launch a mentorship programme pairing Saudi Entertainment Academy (SAEA) students with senior industry leaders during the summit, offering a clear, hands-on route into a sector that will require Saudi talent at every level as it grows.
Behind-the-scenes at Six Flags & Aquarabia Qiddiya City
Brian Machamer, park president at Six Flags & Aquarabia Qiddiya City, says:
“SEA Expo Connex highlights the role destinations like Six Flags and Aquarabia Qiddiya City can play in the next chapter of Saudi Arabia’s MICE industry.
"By combining world-class entertainment with distinctive venues and experiences, we can create new ways for businesses and industries to connect, collaborate and engage.
"As the Kingdom continues to grow as a global business and leisure destination, we are excited to help attract new audiences, elevate the events landscape and contribute to Saudi Arabia’s continued economic diversification.”
Commenting on the launch of SEA Expo Connex, Sarkis Kahwajian, associate vice president for the entertainment portfolio at dmg events, says:
“SEA Expo Connex comes at a pivotal time for Saudi Arabia's entertainment and attractions sector. It's the region's only meeting point dedicated to this industry this year: the one place where the people operating, investing in and supplying the Kingdom's entertainment destinations sit down together with a common set of priorities.
"That's a genuine gap in the calendar, and it's the room Connex is designed to create.”
He adds: "The Ministry of Investment projects that Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector will create 450,000 jobs and contribute 4.2% to national GDP by 2030.
"Delivering that growth will take sustained investment and strong partnerships across the industry. SEA Expo Connex brings the investors, operators and suppliers shaping the sector together to network, share insight and build the partnerships that growth requires."
SEA Expo Connex takes place 21–22 October 2026 at Six Flags Qiddiya City. For more information, please click here.
Charlotte Blanco Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
