Saudi Light and Sound expo to showcase state-of-the-art sensory tech

Saudi Light & Sound Expo and Summit will showcases State-of-the-Art sensory innovations in the region. (Supplied)
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Updated 26 April 2022
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Saudi Light and Sound expo to showcase state-of-the-art sensory tech

  • Event from May 16-18 aims to transform Kingdom’s entertainment sector

RIYADH: The Saudi Light and Sound (SLS) Expo, the first dedicated event in Saudi Arabia for professional AV and lighting equipment, will be held next month from May 16-18 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The first SLS Expo will also feature the SLS Summit, which aims to to host influential conversations that help the Kingdom become a global entertainment powerhouse through professional light and sound.

SLS Expo will allow attendees to see, hear and experience the latest developments and innovations in lighting, sound and AV.

Under the Saudi Vision 2030 program, the Kingdom plans to invest up to $64 billion to promote cutting-edge innovations in the entertainment sector.

HIGHLIGHT

The expo will allow attendees to see, hear and experience the latest developments and innovations in lighting, sound and AV.

Commenting on the event, Sarkis Kahwajian, SLS Expo event director, said: “The Saudi Light and Sound Expo is a platform that will bring together system integrators and light, sound and AV installation distributors and wholesalers with retailers, AV production houses, real estate developers, venues, and end users such as hotels and restaurants, commercial spaces, amusement parks, entertainment and concert venues, stadiums, auditoriums, theaters and cinemas, airports, educational facilities, retail outlets and shopping malls, and even religious venues.”

Kahwajian added that the event aims to make the Kingdom a hub for reliable lighting, sound, AV and on-site management solutions.

He said: “We will host the most eminent leaders from the sector at Saudi Light and Sound Expo to share insights and experiences on how the region is tackling the situation, and where they foresee potential business opportunities.”

Some of the confirmed speakers at the SLS Summit include Jasper Hope from the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Abdulwahab Baghdadi of the Professional Events Industry Association, Majed Samman of the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture — Ithra and Tahani Al-Ghureiby of the Saudi Ministry of Culture.

Commenting on the event, NMK Electronics Commercial Director Dino Drimakis said: “We are starting to see a lot more requests and requirements coming from the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is at its transformational stage, and we are starting to see a whole different shift in mindset, both culturally and economically.”


Klija Festival in Buraidah empowers small businesses

Updated 24 January 2026
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Klija Festival in Buraidah empowers small businesses

  • Half a million attend 15-day celebration of heritage; event creates 1,500 seasonal jobs

RIYADH: The 17th Klija Festival in Buraidah drew more than half a million visitors during its 15-day run, celebrating the region’s heritage and entrepreneurial spirit.

Organized by the Qassim Chamber of Commerce, the event highlighted small businesses, providing a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase local products.

More than 340 sales outlets, marketing corners and points of sale welcomed attendees, while the festival provided 1,500 seasonal job opportunities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The small business pavilions featured families in the cottage industry, artisans and startups presenting traditional foods, and handicrafts and heritage items that reflect the region’s identity.

Participants said that the festival was a key marketing platform, boosting sales, increasing brand awareness, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering connections with organizations supporting SMEs.

Mohammed Al-Hanaya, Qassim Chamber secretary-general and festival supervisor, said that the event brought together families, artisans, SMEs, companies and institutions, stimulating commercial activity, opening direct marketing channels and enhancing economic returns.

He added that the festival provided seasonal jobs for more than 1,500 young men and women across operations, marketing and services, supporting the labor market, empowering national talent, and connecting youth to the events and creative economy.

Klija, a traditional cookie made from wheat flour, dates or sugar, date syrup and natural ingredients such as cardamom and lemon, is a rich source of energy, carbohydrates, dietary fiber and natural proteins.

A cultural icon rooted in Qassim’s traditions, the cookie has gained international exposure through the festival, expanding the availability of packaged products.

Starting next year, the festival will be renamed the International Klija Festival, a rebranding approved by Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal, who described it as a “successful model for turning local initiatives into global economic engines.”

This year’s festival, held at the King Khalid Cultural Center, included international participants from Egypt, Turkiye and Morocco, marking its evolution into a cross-cultural platform.