The Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, has announced that this year’s Riyadh Season will prominently feature local and Gulf talent, with no Egyptian theatrical productions included in the line-up.
Speaking at a press conference unveiling details of the upcoming entertainment season, Al-Sheikh revealed that a total of 20 Gulf and Arab concerts will be staged, with Saudi performers accounting for about 90 percent of them.
The season will also showcase Emirati, Qatari, and Syrian Levantine productions, alongside a selection of international shows.
“Saudis have the highest share of performances, followed by Levantine ones,” Al-Sheikh said, stressing that the focus this year is on empowering homegrown talent and highlighting cultural diversity within the region.
He confirmed that all the objectives set during previous seasons of the Riyadh Season had been successfully achieved. Building on that momentum, preparations are now underway for new initiatives that will shape the Kingdom’s entertainment strategy both domestically and internationally.
Al-Sheikh also highlighted the growing global recognition of the event, which has become one of the most prominent entertainment festivals in the Middle East.
“Everywhere in London or America, they know about the Riyadh Season events, and it’s a huge success for Saudi Arabia and the Middle East,” he said.
Despite the scale of the event, he noted that no dedicated television channel has been created to broadcast the season’s activities. Instead, major media partnerships have been formed with platforms and companies such as MBC, Netflix, and Rotana, through which events will be aired in exchange for a share of advertising revenue.
Al-Sheikh further clarified that he is solely responsible for managing the Riyadh Season and is not involved in the organization of other entertainment festivals across the Kingdom, including the Jeddah Season.
The Riyadh Season, which has quickly gained a global reputation for its high-profile performances and ambitious cultural agenda, is now set to enter a new phase, placing regional talent and Gulf artistry firmly at its core.
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