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Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) returns to IAAPA Expo with expanded vision

Nov 21, 2019 Attractions, Business, Europe & Middle East, Events, News, People, Theme Parks, Water Parks, World markets Comments Off on Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) returns to IAAPA Expo with expanded vision

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) returns to IAAPA Expo with expanded vision

Saudi Arabia-based Saudi Entertainment Ventures, SEVEN, is attending IAAPA Expo 2019 in Orlando to underline its vision for the country’s leisure and entertainment sector – and to search for global partners to help it fulfill its vision.

The company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, (PIF), is charged with developing a world-class entertainment ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, putting it firmly on the top ten list of global entertainment destinations by 2030.

During IAAPA 2019 the company is revealing its blueprints for amusement parks, entertainment clusters and movie theaters set to create an unrivalled leisure sector across the country, which has a strong desire to diversify its economy away from reliance of oil, gas and petrochemical revenues.

The population of Saudi Arabia, around 34 million people, is predominantly young – the median age is 30 – bright, and keen to take advantage of the nascent entertainment sector. More than 80 per cent of people live in an urban environment.

SEVEN has partnered with Thinkwell Group and Gensler, among others.

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) CEO Bill Ernest attends IAAPA Expo 2019 at Orange County Convention Center on November 21, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for SEVEN at IAAPA Orlando

SEVEN’s multi-billion-dollar roadmap is designed to bring family friendly entertainment clusters to the Kingdom, alongside the rapid re-introduction of a chain of cinemas.

These wide-reaching, ambitious and audacious entertainment clusters are part of the US $64 billion-dollar plans unveiled as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 blueprint laid down by the Kingdom’s government.

His Excellency Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Sheikh, Chairman of the Board at Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) says the Kingdom aims to position itself among the top four entertainment destinations in the Asian region, and in the top ten globally by the end of the next decade (2030).

SEVEN aims to become the leading investor, developer and operator of a diverse entertainment ecosystem in the country, with its ambitious vision already underway since the company’s formation in 2017.

Each of SEVEN’s planned entertainment destinations will feature a cinema, augmented reality activities, green open areas equipped for sports and aquatic activities, entertainment, live shows and dining venues.

To date, SEVEN’s plans which are already underway include two entertainment destinations in Riyadh. The second raft of developments are in the country’s Eastern Province, home to nearly 5 million people, will include family entertainment destinations and an inaugural amusement park.

SEVEN is bringing 50 cinemas to Saudi Arabia over the next decade, in a ground-breaking partnership with US based AMC Group, the largest cinema operator in the world.

Bill Ernest, CEO of SEVEN, says: “To ensure our entertainment offerings across Saudi Arabia are world class, we are constantly looking to partner with global innovators, game-changers and those with deep industry experience. That’s why SEVEN is keen to speak with as many people as possible in the sector – so IAAPA is a must-attend event for us.”

Saudi Arabia hopes to increase international and domestic visits to 100 million a year by 2030. The government expects to create one million tourism jobs.

SEVEN parent company, PIF, eventually expects the company’s projects to serve more than 50 million visitors each year, provide more than 22,000 direct jobs and contribute to the GDP with approximately SAR $2 billion annually by 2030.

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