عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

45.7 Million Visitors Boost Saudi Arabia's Entertainment Sector

Indicators showed the sector continued to expand, with the number of companies operating in it surpassing 7,200. (General Entertainment Authority)
Indicators showed the sector continued to expand, with the number of companies operating in it surpassing 7,200. (General Entertainment Authority)
TT
TT

45.7 Million Visitors Boost Saudi Arabia's Entertainment Sector

Indicators showed the sector continued to expand, with the number of companies operating in it surpassing 7,200. (General Entertainment Authority)
Indicators showed the sector continued to expand, with the number of companies operating in it surpassing 7,200. (General Entertainment Authority)

Entertainment events and activities across the Kingdom attracted 45.7 million visitors during the first half of 2026, as the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) continued to strengthen the regulatory framework governing the entertainment sector through a series of regulatory and oversight initiatives.

These efforts have enhanced sector efficiency, improved service quality, and strengthened the experience of both investors and visitors, keeping pace with the sector's rapid growth and supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to build a sustainable and investment-attractive entertainment economy, according to SPA.

GEA made significant progress in regulating the sector by issuing more than 2,500 licenses for entertainment activities and supporting entertainment activities, reflecting the continued expansion of the sector and the growing volume of related business activity and investment. These efforts also contribute to providing a flexible regulatory environment that enables operators to conduct their activities in accordance with the highest approved standards.

As part of its commitment to strengthening compliance and enhancing service quality, GEA conducted more than 8,500 compliance inspections across entertainment activities throughout the Kingdom to verify adherence to regulatory requirements, ensure the quality of services provided, and enhance safety and operational standards, thereby reinforcing the confidence of visitors and investors in the sector.

The authority also continued its efforts to streamline government procedures related to the sector by aligning and coordinating with 29 government entities, helping simplify the investor journey, accelerate regulatory procedures, and strengthen collaboration among relevant stakeholders to create a more efficient and agile governance framework for the entertainment sector.

In the area of classification, GEA issued 1,127 classification certificates during the first half of 2026 as part of implementing its approved classification framework for entertainment activities. The framework aims to elevate service quality, standardize quality benchmarks, and encourage establishments to adopt operational best practices.

The sector's performance indicators reflect its continued growth, with the number of companies operating in the entertainment sector exceeding 7,200, underscoring the sector's increasing attractiveness for investment and the continued expansion of entertainment activities across the Kingdom, supported by an advanced and growth-oriented regulatory environment.

According to SPA, the authority also enabled more than 400 investors to benefit from its Visitor Experience Measurement tools, allowing them to access performance indicators, analyze visitor behavior, and make data-driven decisions that enhance visitor experiences and improve investment efficiency across the sector.

In the same context, GEA prepared more than 900 visitor satisfaction and experience reports, providing a comprehensive knowledge base that supports informed decision-making, contributes to the development of entertainment products and activities, and drives continuous operational improvement through measurable performance indicators.

Commenting on these achievements, Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer at the General Entertainment Authority Majed Alghurabi said: "These results reflect the role undertaken by the authority in building an integrated regulatory ecosystem that extends beyond licensing to include the development of regulations, enhancement of service quality, strengthening of compliance and oversight, performance measurement, and investor enablement. Together, these efforts contribute to reinforcing the Kingdom's position as one of the world's fastest-growing entertainment markets while enhancing the sector's competitiveness as a key driver of the national economy and quality of life."

He added: "Under the guidance of the Kingdom's wise leadership and with the direction and close supervision of Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh, GEA continues to establish an enabling regulatory environment that provides the private sector with the support needed to enrich the entertainment sector through a diverse range of events and entertainment activities. These efforts contribute to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, strengthen the sector's appeal to domestic and international investors, and expand economic activity in ways that deliver lasting positive impact for the Kingdom."

Most Viewed

 
 
Varieties

‘Crying Face’ is Officially Number 1 Emoji, Could Also be Showing Your Age

Emojis are a digital language for conveying meaning (Shutterstock)
Emojis are a digital language for conveying meaning (Shutterstock)
TT
TT

‘Crying Face’ is Officially Number 1 Emoji, Could Also be Showing Your Age

Emojis are a digital language for conveying meaning (Shutterstock)
Emojis are a digital language for conveying meaning (Shutterstock)

Emojis have become an integral feature of modern communication. As a new icon is crowned the most popular symbol of the last year on record, The Independent looked at what its mixed meaning could do to our brains.

That little yellow circle with tears streaming down its face has officially been named the most popular emoji worldwide, according to data from Google shared with The New York Times.

While the original cry-laughing face and its diagonal sibling have traditionally been used to convey joy digitally, their overuse has essentially rendered them a bit toe-curling.

Want to show your age? Send one to anyone below the age of 30 and see them send a (dead from laughing) skull back. Honorable mentions also go to: the two beers emoji, the monkey covering its eyes and the sunglasses smiley. They can all get – unless used with irony – firmly in the digital bin.

Much like with new fashion drops or sought-after artwork, the appeal of an emoji in 2026 stems from its originality.

So, it’s no surprise to find that, although young people are conveying the same emotions as everyone else using a smart phone, the images being used to express them have evolved: the wilting rose (93rd most used) instead of the broken heart, the praying hands instead of thumbs up, And then we come to the Moai statue, which has become the 33rd most used emoji up from 482nd in 2021.

The New York Times says, is used now instead of raised eyebrows or the routine deadpan smiley.

While it’s easy to dismiss emoji use as irrelevant or childish, the symbols have become a language in their own right, with more and more people leaning on the icons to convey meaning.

Although emojis play increasingly critical communicative functions, studies have found that frequency of use decreases among older adults, who may struggle to adapt to new forms of non-verbal communication due to lack of confidence.

In Adolescence, emojis like the red pill were used in incel subcultures, which police struggled to decode without a teen’s help, On the flip side, a recent study by researchers at Bournemouth University found that emojis can trigger similar neural response patterns to those involved in processing real human facial expressions.

“This suggests that emojis are not simply fun additions to digital communication but may be processed by the brain in ways comparable to genuine facial cues. In this sense, emojis can function as meaningful emotional signals during online interaction,” said the study’s lead, Madeline Molly Ely.

So, whether you are perceiving this year’s most popular emoji as joy or sorrow, could actually be having an impact on your brain.

Varieties

Indonesia Intensifies Aerial Firefighting as Forest Fires Scorch Multiple Provinces

In this aerial photo released by Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, smoke billows as a wildfire rages through a peatland forest in Bulungan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BNPB via AP)
In this aerial photo released by Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, smoke billows as a wildfire rages through a peatland forest in Bulungan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BNPB via AP)
TT
TT

Indonesia Intensifies Aerial Firefighting as Forest Fires Scorch Multiple Provinces

In this aerial photo released by Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, smoke billows as a wildfire rages through a peatland forest in Bulungan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BNPB via AP)
In this aerial photo released by Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, smoke billows as a wildfire rages through a peatland forest in Bulungan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia. (BNPB via AP)

Indonesia on Monday intensified ground and aerial firefighting operations as huge blazes in central and western parts of the country scorched thousands of hectares of forests and peatland, created a choking haze that blanketed cities and crossed borders.

Indonesian authorities have been battling fires driven by an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season, generating dense smoke that crossed into Malaysia and Brunei, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, or BNPB.

The BNPB said Monday that fires remain active in several regions, while large-scale suppression efforts continue in fire-prone provinces including West, Central and South Kalimantan on Borneo island and in Riau, South Sumatra and Jambi on Sumatra island. The fires are part of a broader surge in wildfire activity across Indonesia this year.

After visiting areas devastated by forest and peatland fires in Central Kalimantan on Saturday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto flew to fire-affected Riau province on Sumatra island, where more than 11,500 hectares (28,400 acres) have burned, to encourage authorities to get the haze cloud under control.

Prabowo vowed the government would continue supporting firefighting operations, including through the deployment of additional water-bombing helicopters and oxygen supplies for firefighters. According to The Associated Press, he urged authorities to “thoroughly document and report the work being carried out by firefighting teams” directly to him.

The Transportation Ministry said it has authorized the use of 35 foreign-registered aircraft to support wildfire response operations, including water-bombing missions and aerial patrols.

The ministry said the aircraft can be rapidly redeployed to disaster-hit areas as conditions change, while complying with Indonesian aviation safety regulations.

The Environment Ministry satellite data on Monday showed South Sumatra recorded the highest number of hot spots nationwide with 1,429, followed by West Kalimantan with 1,226 and Central Kalimantan with 811. East Kalimantan logged 576 hot spots, ahead of Riau with 503, while West Papua and Jambi recorded 468 and 458 hot spots, respectively.

Forestry Ministry data indicated that nearly 94,000 hectares (232,000 acres) burned in July alone.

Drought, strong winds and dry vegetation have complicated efforts to contain the fires, BNPB said in a statement on Monday. Some hot spots remained inaccessible to more than 10,700 ground firefighters who were deployed as of Sunday, prompting local officials to request additional water-bombing support and firefighting vehicles.

Cloud-seeding resumed over Kalimantan on Monday, with 30 helicopters for water-bombing and aerial patrol missions, and another 22 helicopters covering Sumatra.

Fires are a regular problem during dry season in Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands, and often strain relations with neighbors.

Plantation owners and traditional farmers often start fires to clear land for farming. It triggers hazardous haze that reduces visibility, disrupts land and air transportation and threatens public health, sometimes affecting neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has suffered severe smoke from the fires, with its eastern state of Sarawak among the hardest hit, prompting the closure of nearly 600 schools and affecting about 200,000 students, the Sarawak government said.

Varieties

New Zealand’s PM Proposes Banning Children from Using Social Media

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to media during a visit to aircraft manufacturing company "NZ Aero" with Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (not pictured) in Auckland on August 21, 2026. (AFP)
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to media during a visit to aircraft manufacturing company "NZ Aero" with Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (not pictured) in Auckland on August 21, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

New Zealand’s PM Proposes Banning Children from Using Social Media

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to media during a visit to aircraft manufacturing company "NZ Aero" with Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (not pictured) in Auckland on August 21, 2026. (AFP)
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to media during a visit to aircraft manufacturing company "NZ Aero" with Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (not pictured) in Auckland on August 21, 2026. (AFP)

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has unveiled a proposed law banning children younger than 16 from using social media platforms, citing what he said Monday was “harm being done to a generation” of young people.

However, the bill hasn't yet attracted enough support to pass into law because two of the three parties in Luxon's coalition government will vote against it. Passage would require support from opposition lawmakers, who have yet to decide how they would vote.

There also wasn't enough time for lawmakers to hold a vote on the proposal before Parliament dissolved on Oct. 1 ahead of November’s election, Luxon said. Bills are required to pass three rounds of voting, usually over a period of months, before they become law.

Proposal comes after other countries enact age bans If reelected, Luxon is seeking to make his government the latest worldwide to enact age restrictions for social media platforms after dozens of countries have either introduced or are mulling such measures.

He said 2025 research showed a third of New Zealand teenagers spent at least five hours a day on social media.

“Social media is exposing them to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to deal with and it’s affecting their family life, mental health, sleep, and education,” Luxon said.

The proposal would require social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook, to “take reasonable steps” to check users were older than 16, according to material supplied by Luxon's party Monday. This could include “existing account information, facial age estimation, digital ID services and formal ID,” the material said.

Excluded from the proposed law are messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, online gaming platforms like Roblox and AI apps with productivity uses, including ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot.

No penalties are proposed for parents or children, but tech firms could be fined up to 10% of their global revenue for failing to meet their obligations. Platforms regularly used by children would be required to assess and report on the risks their networks posed, Luxon said.

Prospect of a ban has divided New Zealand's government Luxon's government has mulled such a law since Australia's world-first social media ban for under 16-year-olds took effect in December 2025. However, it's been vehemently opposed by the other two parties that make up the government along with Luxon's center-right group National — libertarian ACT and populist NZ First.

Both minor parties repeated Monday their plans to vote against the law. Lawmakers from the largest opposition party, center-left Labour, haven't decided if they'd vote for it, leader Chris Hipkins said Monday.

Since Australia's law came into force, countries including Canada, Brazil and Indonesia have enacted bans too, while many other countries are studying or developing laws. Child safety advocates and some parents have welcomed age restrictions, while privacy groups say the rules can be cheated and that forcing users to supply identification raises privacy concerns.

In January, a month after Australia's ban was enacted, social media platforms told an Australian regulator they had revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children.

Luxon's government enacted a ban in 2024 on the use of cellphones during the school day for students of all ages.