With major developments under the Vision 2030 National Transformation Program, the events and entertainment sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to undergo a major expansion in the coming years, according to industry experts who participated in the Saudi Event Show, which concluded on Thursday. The two-day Saudi Event Show, which attracted an attendance of more than 2,000 events and entertainment professionals and 50 innovative exhibitors from across the industry, offered a platform for the attendees to meet and engage with key local and international stakeholders and discuss Kingdom's prospective opportunities for the industry. The first day of the event hosted several renowned speakers including Mohammed Tayem, CEO entourage marketing & events; Basil Ghannam Al Dossary, CEO at Takamul Smart Technology; Alessandro Gaffuri, Founder and CEO, CELS Group; Harmeek Singh, Founder and Owner of Plan b Group; Philip Wride CEO at Cheesecake Digital, among others. During a session, Tayem highlighted the role of the event industry in supporting Vision 2030 and supporting the regional economy. Tayem mentioned that "We are witnessing a big surge in positive momentum ever since His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman mandated the entertainment and events industry to become a key engine of economic growth in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia currently spends $22 billion on tourism and entertainment and wide-scale efforts are underway to build a strong local entertainment industry." During another session, Basil Ghannam Al Dossary discussed how the events and entertainment market is growing at a rapid pace in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and with the introduction of cutting-edge technologies, companies will better engage and involve local audiences. The second day of the event featured numerous keynote speeches and panel discussions highlighting the changing face of the event industry in KSA and the role of start-ups and innovation in the event industry. The day's second panel discussion featuring Emad AlOtaibi Managing Director at PRO4, Harmeek Singh, Founder and CEO of Plan b Group and Fawaz K. Alfraiji, Entrepreneurship GM, discussed how to turn a small budget idea into a booming company, success and longevity. Panelists also highlighted many areas of legislation required to enter the KSA market as a new company. Experts emphasized that the events and entertainment industry has evolved as one of the most promising business propositions for a country's holistic growth in tourism and commerce and the recent developments in Saudi Arabia narrate a bright chronicle. "The overwhelming interest from the participants and exhibitors at Saudi Event Show underscores the desire and potential of Saudi Arabia's events and entertainment market," said Amar Daginawala, Exhibition Manager at Informa Middle East. "Experts from the most renowned multinational events and entertainment corporations shared best practices and guidance for thriving in the Saudi market. We are deeply grateful to our speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and participants for making the Saudi Event Show 2019 a resounding success." — SG
