• The public can look forward to music concerts, football matches, boxing bouts, UFC fights, and a WWE showcase
• First-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival to feature over 50 of the world's most renowned comedians

Arab News

RIYADH: Plenty of global attractions are being planned for the upcoming Riyadh Season, with the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) promising that events will be rich in Saudi, Gulf and Syrian content.

GEA Chairman Turki Alalshikh on Wednesday said the Season will feature for the first time the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which will take place at Boulevard City in Riyadh from September 26 to October 9. The event will feature over 50 of the world’s most renowned comedians, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Following the major success of last year’s season, Riyadh is currently experiencing an unprecedented entertainment movement, such as hosting the Esports World Cup — the largest esports tournament in the world — with a prize pool exceeding $70 million and drawing significant global attention. 

Alalshikh said the season’s activities will continue to accelerate week after week.

Among the global events being lined up are music concerts, football matches, boxing bouts, UFC fights, and a WWE showcase, the GEA chief said.

Wrestling fans can look forward to the “Royal Rumble” taking place in January, the SPA quoted him as saying.

Alalshikh added that more surprises will be announced soon, including events in collaboration with global YouTube star MrBeast and the “Six Kings Slam” tennis tournament, which will bring together the world’s top six players to compete for the largest prize in the sport’s history — following the major success of last year’s edition.

Riyadh Season is an annual entertainment festival held in the Kingdom’s capital, a major initiative aimed to boost tourism and diversify the Saudi economy, as part of the country’s Vision 2030 initiative.