Partnerships, strategic deals drive next era of Saudi entertainment

The SEA Summit’s sessions this year explored immersive technology, AI, esports, and sustainable, future-ready entertainment destinations.
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Updated 10 June 2025
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Partnerships, strategic deals drive next era of Saudi entertainment

Momentum built over three days at the SEA Expo 2025, held from May 20-22 in Riyadh, as partnerships progressed, discussions deepened, and the region’s entertainment priorities commanded the program for the day.

Now in its seventh edition, the Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo has proven itself as a strategic anchor for the global entertainment business. With participation from 36 countries — including Saudi Arabia, the UK, the US, Germany, and the UAE — the SEA Expo continues to attract the industry’s decision-makers as they look to tap into Saudi Arabia’s fast-expanding leisure and attractions market.

SEA Expo provides direct access to trade intelligence, partnership opportunities, and practical insights. At the center of SEA Expo is the SEA Summit, which has the generous support of leading sponsors BAAN Holding, Al-Othaim, RWS Global, Storyland Studios, RC Almana, and TAIT. In this focused arena, this year’s sessions explored immersive technology, artificial intelligence, esports, and the design of sustainable, future-ready entertainment destinations.

Further to this, a key highlight of the summit was the compelling opening keynote panel, “Partnership in Practice: Building Saudi’s Next Entertainment Hubs,” where public and private sector leaders explored how new investments shape the physical and creative landscape of Saudi Arabia’s next-generation venues. The strength of SEA Expo 2025 is reflected in its industry backing, with sponsors invested in realizing the region’s entertainment ambitions.

The show days also saw the signing of several significant agreements that will strengthen the country’s entertainment infrastructure, including:

• Mack Rides, SPARKS, and Fawasel are finalizing an exclusive sales agreement that will enable the delivery of advanced amusement rides across the Kingdom.

• INFINIA and BLOCKS signed a memorandum of understanding to co-develop digital theming, smart experiences and immersive design for public and private environments.

These partnerships reflect the sector’s continued movement toward tailored, high-impact solutions and long-term project development, bringing both international expertise and local insight into alignment.

Sarkis Kahwajian, associate vice president at dmg events, said: “SEA Expo is an important working platform, and it continues to deliver on its purpose: bringing together the right people to move from vision to implementation. The outcomes we’re seeing here will define the next phase of growth.”

Co-located with the Saudi Light and Sound Expo, SEA Expo is supported by the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, indicative of its direct alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives — building a globally competitive entertainment sector, expanding employment opportunities and diversifying the economy through leisure and tourism.


Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Updated 04 February 2026
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Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Schneider Electric has announced the launch of the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa in Saudi Arabia, a regional capability platform dedicated to skilling, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.

The launch comes at a critical moment as the Kingdom accelerates energy transition, industrial localization, and human capability development under Vision 2030. The academy reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership role in building future-ready talent while supporting industrial and energy transformation across the wider Middle East and Africa region.

The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is not a traditional training center; it is a regional platform translating Schneider Electric’s global energy technology expertise into applied capability for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Anchored in Riyadh, the academy is designed to serve as a benchmark for skills development and enablement across the MEA.

The launch reflects Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to investing in people and capabilities, and to supporting national priorities across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.

Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said: “This launch reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and to building capability that lasts. After more than 40 years in the Kingdom, we continue to invest where impact matters most: in people. Launching the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa from Riyadh underscores our belief that sustainable transformation is built on local capability and trusted partnerships.”

The academy directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on human capability development, localization, and Saudi-made outcomes by enabling the skills behind advanced energy systems, industrial automation, and digital infrastructure. Capabilities developed through the academy will support Saudi manufacturing, national projects, and resilient supply chains, while also strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.

“The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is designed to enable real outcomes,” said Walid Sheta, zone president for the MEA at Schneider Electric. “By equipping talent with future-ready skills across electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, we are strengthening Saudi and regional capability to design, operate, and lead the energy and industrial systems of the future.”

The launch event in Riyadh brought together senior government representatives, industry partners, customers, and Schneider Electric’s leadership, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in aligning education, skills development, and labor market needs.

Designed as a long-term platform, the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa will continue to evolve through partnerships, programs, and continuous capability development, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for skills, knowledge, and industrial enablement.