GEA launches 4th cohort of ‘Entertainment Leaders’ program

The program is part of GEA’s ongoing efforts to empower future leaders in the entertainment sector.
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Updated 19 May 2025
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GEA launches 4th cohort of ‘Entertainment Leaders’ program

The General Entertainment Authority has launched the fourth cohort of the “Entertainment Leaders” program, part of the “Happiness Creators” initiative. The program empowers national talent and develops leadership in the entertainment sector, with support from the Quality of Life Program — one of the Vision 2030 realization programs.

This year’s edition includes the participation of 33 leaders — both men and women — who hold senior positions in the sector and represent a select group of influential national talents. The program runs for five months and is designed with a flexible format that does not require full-time commitment, enabling participants to enhance their leadership skills without disrupting their professional responsibilities.

The program features a wide range of training and development activities, including specialized workshops, one-on-one mentoring sessions, and international field visits to explore global best practices in the entertainment industry. Participants will also have access to a comprehensive digital library throughout the program duration.

This initiative comes as part of GEA’s ongoing efforts to empower future leaders in the entertainment sector and enhance leadership and management capabilities to support the development of a sustainable and competitive entertainment industry at both the regional and global levels.

The program — one of the initiatives under the “Happiness Creators” — was launched by the GEA in 2021 as part of its human capital development initiatives. It trains and develops national talents working in the entertainment sector, contributing to sustainable capacity-building that supports the sector’s growth and advancement in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.


Saudi Awwal Bank becomes first Middle East bank to earn 7-star CinOrg innovation accreditation

Saeed Assiri, chief innovation banking officer at SAB
Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Awwal Bank becomes first Middle East bank to earn 7-star CinOrg innovation accreditation

Saudi Awwal Bank has become the first bank in the Middle East to receive a 7‑star Certified Innovative Organization rating from the Global Innovation Institute, the highest recognition awarded by the institute.

The accreditation marks a significant step in SAB’s innovation strategy and follows an innovation maturity assessment conducted by the institute in December 2025. The review, which built on an earlier assessment in December 2023, raised the bank’s maturity level from “Champion” to “Leader.” The new rating reflects SAB’s institutionalized approach to innovation, its enterprise-wide impact and its ability to consistently deliver measurable results.

With the 7‑star rating, SAB becomes the first bank in the region to reach the highest innovation maturity level, strengthening its position as a regional reference point for innovation-led and future-ready banking.

In 2025, the bank opened its flagship Innovation Centre and secured six internationally recognized innovation awards, along with a lab accreditation. The centre has supported SAB’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, encourage cross-functional collaboration and reinforce its standing as a regional leader in financial innovation.

Saeed Assiri, chief innovation banking officer at SAB, said the recognition reflects years of focused work to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem.

“By investing in SAB’s culture, governance and talent, innovation enables the bank to remain future-ready,” he said. “This milestone reinforces our role in accelerating financial innovation in Saudi Arabia and delivering long-term value for our customers.”

The certification adds to SAB’s broader efforts to strengthen its innovation capabilities as the Kingdom’s banking sector continues to evolve.