Riyadh season will begin on October 12 and bring a festival of sport, culture and entertainment to Saudi Arabia, said General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Al-Shikh.
Al Al-Shikh announced 14 entertainment zones that will be part of this year’s Riyadh Season, with the season taking place over an area exceeding 7.2 million square meters.
The events witnessed the signing of a total of 4,200 contracts with 2,100 companies, 95 percent of which are local, he noted.
Riyadh Season 2024
Additionally, 11 world championships, 10 exhibitions, and various festivals will be held.
Al Al-Shikh highlighted Sela company, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), as the strategic partner of the season. Big Time is the creative partner of Riyadh Season and the GEA, and Saudi media company SMC will be the media partner.
Al Al-Shikh stated that Kingdom Arena will witness an expansion of more than 40 per cent, hosting more than 27,000 spectators for four world championships.
The area will embrace the opening ceremony, featuring the IV Crown Showdown between Russians Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol competing for the title of boxing light heavyweight world champion.
The opening will witness a musical performance by a global star, serving as the event’s surprise. The zone will also feature the CAF Super Cup Final 2024 and the highly anticipated rematch between boxing champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Al Al-Shikh also unveiled a new area joining the Riyadh Season called “The Venue,” noting that the zone was built in 50 days to accommodate 8,000 people over an area of around 10,000 square meters.
The Venue will host seven events, beginning with the world-renowned tennis tournament 6 Kings Slam, gathering the top six tennis players globally. A grand fashion event dubbed “one thousand and one seasons” will be held in partnership with the world-famous designer Elie Saab, in addition to “Latin Night”.
The zone will also host the fifth annual Joy Awards ceremony honouring entertainment industry leaders in the Arab world in the presence of global stars early next year.
Also coming is the intense Power Slap challenge, a first-time event in the Kingdom, and the Effie Awards recognising the most impactful marketing efforts in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be back for the second time to Riyadh Season, alongside the two-day WWE Crown Jewel and Raw wrestling show. Being held annually in the Riyadh Season, this year it will be featuring a powerhouse lineup of even stronger wrestlers in a comprehensive and diverse entertainment season.
Al Al-Shikh announced the continued expansion in the area of zones of the Boulevard World, which receives significant public turnout. Moreover, five new subzones will be added, namely Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Iran, Africa, and Courchevel, bringing the total number of subzones to 19 from various countries around the world, along with 300 restaurants and cafes, over 1,400 retail stores, and 21 new events.
Al Al-Shikh said that Boulevard City has experienced a 70 per cent increase in its activities and events, with over 40 new experiences and activities, 25 restaurants and cafes, 12 plays, and 12 concerts.
He added that the area will feature a stand-up comedy night with Martin Lawrence from the “Bad Boys” film series.
Fans of anime will enjoy Detective Conan and the cartoon Bluey in a dreamland setting, while electronic game enthusiasts can look forward to PUBG Mobile and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, along with a musical performance by one of the world’s top film-score geniuses.
Additionally, the giant dinosaur exhibit OloLo, standing over 20 meters tall, will be a major attraction.
In sports championships, this year will feature the Riyadh Season Padel Championship, the second edition of the World Snooker Masters 2024, and the opening of a snooker academy with champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
For the first time globally, an interactive padel experience using innovation and technology will be held in partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo.
This year will also continue the excellence in theatrical content with performances featuring top stars and many Arab celebrities.
Al Al-Shikh also revealed designs for the BLVD Business Park project, which will host several local and international entities and companies.
Details were shared about the Boulevard Lane area, set to be developed in partnership with Saudi Airlines, featuring three converted Boeing 777 aircraft as commercial spaces and restaurants, along with 13 interactive experiences for all ages.
Improvement continues in various areas of the season, including “Wonder Garden,” which has been upgraded to accommodate up to 23,000 people across nearly 500,000 square meters, featuring more than 60 theatrical and roaming shows, 65 games and experiences, and more than 40 restaurants in a unique setting with three beautifully distinct garden areas.
VIA Riyadh will be fully air-conditioned by summer 2025 to attract visitors year-round. This season will see improvements including upgraded cinema halls, new restaurants and cafes, and the renowned Ana Arabiya installation.
Additionally, the season will feature the opening of a Christian Dior exhibition and museum, Dior café, gift shop, and 14 fashion-themed sections.
During the winter, the “Dunes of Arabia” zone will be established to provide desert enthusiasts with immersive experiences such as sandboarding, desert driving, sand dune hiking, archery, and camel riding.
Additionally, Al-Hosn Studios will open as one of the destinations in the Riyadh Season.
Following the success of the previous Dog Festival, this year’s event will accommodate 5,000 people and 350 dogs from around the world.
It will feature five championship events with the highest prize money in the world, including the 9K Championship, Agility Dog Race, Dog Beauty Contest, Saluki Race, and Working Dog Race.
Riyadh Zoo, a free zone during the season, will host the Riyadh Zoo event for the third consecutive year, offering entertainment and learning experiences amid the lively atmosphere of Riyadh Season and having an increased capacity of 12,000 visitors.
Al Al-Shikh elaborated that this year, Al-Suwaidi Park, one of the three free zones in the season, is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Media.
Over 45 days, the park will showcase the cultures of:
- Yemen
- Sudan
- Jordan
- Egypt
- The Levant
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Indonesia
- Philippines
Souq Al-Awaleen, another free zone, reflects Saudi identity through a shopping experience, folk performances, handicrafts, and traditional clothing.
As part of Riyadh Season’s social responsibility initiatives, special days will also be organised for the children of martyrs and orphanages in the Boulevard World and Wonder Garden areas.
