The Saudi capital is gearing up to host its massive recreational festival, Riyadh Season, after a two-year halt caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Governor of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh announced on Monday that the festival will kick off on October 20.
He said the recreational events will be held in 14 districts in Riyadh and cater to audiences of all ages.
This year’s Riyadh Season will be much bigger than previous editions, boasting 7,500 events, 10 exhibitions, and 350 stage performances and an e-sports competition, he revealed.
Al-Sheikh also addressed the Matloob platform that was launched by the Authority ahead of the Riyadh Season.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Authority is seeking to support aspiring artists and establishing a fanbase for them. He explained that as they gain more fans, the artist will be requested to perform at major events, such as Riyadh Season, in the future.
This year’s edition will also boast 100 interactive events, 24 Arab and international theatrical performances, car exhibitions and auctions, concerts, a wrestling match, and two football matches played by international teams, said Al-Sheikh.
Over 30 tons of fireworks have been dedicated to the event and visitors will have over 200 restaurants and 70 cafes to choose from.
Over 16,000 workers built the venues of the festival, which is expected to generate record revenues and attract a record number of visitors and tourists, added Al-Sheikh.
In 2019, over 10 million visitors and 200,000 tourists attended the festival and the General Entertainment Authority generated over a billion riyals (266 million dollars) in direct revenues.
The Riyadh Festival had helped create over 51,000 direct and indirect jobs in the past and this figure is expected to double for this year’s edition, he predicted.
