RIYADH: The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) organized a ceremony in Riyadh to celebrate and send off the first batch of students selected for its Entertainment Scholarship Program. 

The 60 male and female students will travel to the US on scholarship, where they will pursue bachelor’s degrees in entertainment disciplines from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at Central Florida University.

Upon their graduation, they will join Al-Qiddiya Investment Co. to utilize their acquired skills and knowledge toward developing the Saudi entertainment sector. 

The GEA’s CEO Amr Banaja expressed his pride in the scholarship program, which he said will contribute to the Kingdom’s growth and achievement of the targets outlined in the Quality of Life Program and the Vision 2030 reform plan.

He urged the students to represent their nation with pride, and to benefit maximally from this opportunity, which will enable them to play a vital role in transferring valuable knowledge and experiences to Saudi Arabia. 

The GEA launched the scholarship program last July so as to enrol Saudi youth in prestigious entertainment-related programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels to enrich the Kingdom’s labor market with qualified and capable local talent.