• 3 million visitors to the capital for the festival

Arab News, Riyadh

The Riyadh Season of events has generated more than SR1 billion ($270 million) for the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA), its chairman has revealed.

Turki Al Sheikh said the figure represented initial income from the season, while indirect revenues over the festival period made via the Saudi payments system, Mada, exceeded SR4 billion.

He added that Riyadh Season had attracted 10.3 million visitors to the capital and its surrounding area and had given rise to 34,700 jobs along with 17,300 indirect posts.

Al Sheikh noted that following the “exceptional success” of Riyadh Season, the challenge would be to match it again in the upcoming Sharqiah and Jeddah seasons.

Riyadh Season is one of 11 Saudi Seasons that aim to promote Saudi Arabia as a tourism hub, as well as enhance the quality of life for the people of the Kingdom. It began on Oct. 11, 2019 with a concert by K-Pop superstars BTS at King Fahd International Stadium.