Saudi students urged to play key role in transferring experiences

The ceremony was organized to celebrate and send off the first batch of students selected for the Entertainment Scholarship Program. (Photo/Supplied)
Updated 01 September 2019
Follow

Saudi students urged to play key role in transferring experiences

  • 60 males, females to pursue bachelor’s degrees in entertainment disciplines in US as part of the GEA Entertainment Scholarship Program

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. 

 


SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

Updated 20 February 2026
Follow

SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

RIYADH: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi says that Saudi Arabia is moving steadily to establish artificial intelligence as a trusted national capability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, Al-Ghamdi said the goal is to use AI to help develop government services, enhance competitiveness, build human capacity and improve quality of life through a comprehensive strategy based on three main pillars that unlock the potential of this technology and achieve sustainable developmental impact.

“The first pillar focuses on building human capacity and enhancing readiness to engage with AI technologies,” he said.

The second pillar is building an integrated national AI ecosystem that drives expansion and innovation by developing advanced digital infrastructure that enables various sectors to adopt AI applications efficiently, consistently and with effective governance, Al-Ghamdi said.

The third pillar, he said, is governance that ensures responsible and measurable AI through a national framework aligned with international standards.

This came during Al-Ghamdi’s speech at a high-level ministerial session held on Thursday on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

He is heading the Saudi delegation, and the session saw broad participation from heads of state, decision-makers and technology leaders from around the world.

Al-Ghamdi also had a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening, discussed AI cooperation and expressed his gratitude for hosting the summit and for the hospitality extended to the participants.