عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Entertainment Authority Continues Crackdown on Black Market Tickets

Large crowds of visitors at one of the General Entertainment Authority's events.(Asharq Al-Awsat)
Large crowds of visitors at one of the General Entertainment Authority's events.(Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Entertainment Authority Continues Crackdown on Black Market Tickets

Large crowds of visitors at one of the General Entertainment Authority's events.(Asharq Al-Awsat)
Large crowds of visitors at one of the General Entertainment Authority's events.(Asharq Al-Awsat)

Since 2016, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has been fighting against black market ticket sales for events like concerts, theater shows, and sports matches.

On Monday, GEA Governor Turki Al-Sheikh announced their biggest crackdown yet, blocking the sale of over 4,000 tickets. Al-Sheikh pledged continued efforts to stop ticket scalping and mentioned upcoming features to help reduce the problem.

“We encourage you to buy tickets from the official platform,” he said.

“Our aim is to ensure you get tickets at fair prices,” he added in a post on X.

Last year, Al-Sheikh launched “WeBook,” the official site for booking tickets to Riyadh Season 2023. The platform offers many benefits and services, urging users to register to combat black market ticket sales.

Moreover, GEA is working with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence to shut down sites selling overpriced tickets. They are connecting the ticketing system to offer fair prices and fight the black market.

Fahad bin Naif, CEO of NOB for marketing solutions, emphasized the importance of awareness before discussing penalties.

He highlighted the entertainment sector’s vital role in the economy and the need to eliminate black market ticket sales.

“The entertainment sector is rapidly developing,” he stressed, adding that “using modern technologies like WeBook can help prevent market manipulation.”

WeBook and other official platforms by the GEA will make it easier for everyone to buy tickets fairly, stopping black market practices and ensuring transparency.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

French Finance Minister Says Budget Can Still Be Improved

French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Antoine Armand arrives for a dinner in honor of the President of Nigeria, at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 28, 2024. (AFP)
French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Antoine Armand arrives for a dinner in honor of the President of Nigeria, at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 28, 2024. (AFP)
TT
TT

French Finance Minister Says Budget Can Still Be Improved

French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Antoine Armand arrives for a dinner in honor of the President of Nigeria, at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 28, 2024. (AFP)
French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Antoine Armand arrives for a dinner in honor of the President of Nigeria, at the Elysee palace in Paris, on November 28, 2024. (AFP)

French Finance Minister Antoine Armand said on Saturday that the 2025 budget could still be improved, but stopped short of giving ground in a standoff with the far right over new concessions.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's gave Prime Minister Michel Barnier's fragile minority government a rare reprieve late on Friday leaving its rating steady although France's budget deficit has spiraled out of control this year.

Any relief is likely to prove short-lived with both the left and far right threatening to bring Barnier's government down over the budget, which seeks to squeeze 60 billion euros ($64 billion) in savings through tax hikes and spending cuts.

Marine Le Pen's far right National Rally (RN), whose tacit support Barnier needs to survive a likely no confidence motion, has given him until Monday to accede to her demands to make further changes to the budget.

"This government, under his authority, is willing to listen, to have a dialog, to be respectful, to improve this budget," Armand told journalists.

Asked about the showdown with Le Pen, he said: "The only ultimatum really facing the French is that our country gets a budget."

On Thursday, Barnier already dropped plans to raise electricity taxes in the budget as the RN had demanded, but it is keeping pressure on the government to scrap plans to postpone an increase in some pensions to save money.

RN lawmaker Jean-Philippe Tanguy told Les Echos newspaper on Saturday if the bill is not modified the party would back a no-confidence motion.

The test could come as soon as Monday if his government has to use an aggressive constitutional measure to ram the social security financing legislation through parliament, which will trigger a no-confidence motion.