Saudi Arabia to spend billions on expanding entertainment sector
Kingdom wants to reverse the trend of Saudis splurging in neighbouring Dubai and Bahrain
Saudi Arabia has announced plans to spend billions on building new venues and flying in Western acts, in a total overhaul of its entertainment sector that would have been unthinkable not long ago.
Long known for its ultra-conservative mores, the kingdom has embarked on a wide-ranging program of social and economic reforms driven by its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
At a glitzy media conference in Riyadh on Thursday, the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) chief, Ahmad bin Aqeel al-Khatib, told reporters the kingdom was to invest $64bn in its entertainment sector over the coming decade.
“We are already building the infrastructure,” Khatib said, adding that ground had been broken for a...