SEA (Saudi Entertainment and Amusement) Expo, the Middle East’s largest gathering of leisure and entertainment professionals, has announced that the 2024 event will focus on the importance of fostering the sector’s next generation of talent.
The entertainment industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant evolution, and experts in the sector are clear that nurturing a new, dynamic workforce and investing in training and development are essential to the industry’s long-term success.
Sixth annual event
This year’s Saudi Entertainment & Amusement (SEA) Expo is taking place from 7 to 9 May in Riyadh. It will concentrate on how the sector can empower employees in the Kingdom. Recent estimates suggest that over 60% of Saudis are under 35, and the conference will highlight the importance of developing technical knowledge and training over the coming years, in addition to approaches for supporting and retaining talent.
This is the sixth edition of the Expo, and the event is set to be a driving force for change in the entertainment sector in the Kingdom. It aims to promote the work of professionals in the entertainment and leisure industries, provide a distinctive worldwide platform for like-minded people to network, and address industry challenges while laying the groundwork for practical solutions.
The SEA Summit runs over three days and will run alongside the Expo. It provides a space to highlight new opportunities and share exclusive market insights from renowned leaders in the region, so boosting activity in the sector.
The Kingdom has emphasised the importance of creating a dynamic workforce by equipping Saudi youth with specialist skills through education and training. The 2024 SEA Summit will concentrate on the next generation in think tank sessions. They will delve into the extensive educational opportunities in the entertainment sector, consider partnerships with schools, and explore how integrated educational programmes are crucial for the sector’s future.
Empowering employees
Industry leaders are recognising the significant benefits of investing in local talent. Red Sea Global are contributing to 120,000 jobs for young Saudis, and its RSG Elite Graduate Program had a 92% retention rate, indicating a growing workforce in the entertainment and leisure sector. Furthermore, in 2020 Qiddiya Investment Company announced a nationwide scholarship initiative for high school graduates which enables them to study higher education in hospitality and entertainment management in the Kingdom.
Sarkis Kahwajian, SEA Expo director, says: “The Kingdom understands that the path towards youth empowerment is through education, training and nurturing talent. We fully support this and understand the importance of cultivating leaders of tomorrow through education, technical knowledge and fostering environments where creativity can thrive, and at this year’s SEA Expo our aim is to do just that.”
Don Potts, president of parks and attractions at Qiddiya Investment Company, comments that this year’s SEA Expo will be a learning and development opportunity for Saudis to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and to have the potential to explore a career in the sector.
This year’s SEA Expo, co-located with the Saudi Light and Sound (SLS) Expo, intends to showcase the Kingdom’s entertainment and leisure ambitions and facilitate opportunities in the sector to support the Vision 2030 objectives.
With 350 exhibitors from over 40 countries, SEA Expo will serve as a platform for showcasing new and inventive products from hundreds of international and regional companies.
Last year, SEA (Saudi Entertainment and Amusement) Expo announced that its Advisory Board had met to discuss the importance of cultivating a dynamic new workforce. The advisory board meeting gathered the nation’s leading experts in the entertainment industry to discuss market dynamics and trends, challenges and possibilities, and map out the future of the entertainment and leisure sector in Saudi Arabia.
