Tourism & Hospitality | Thursday 20 June, 2019 5:07 am |

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) in Saudi Arabia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two specialist companies to establish and operate an academy for entertainment, which will provide specialist programs to train and qualify Saudis to work in the sector.

The academy will see the light of day in about two months, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) stated quoting GEA sources.

This first Saudi Academy for Entertainment is set to be opened in September, SPA said, adding that it will offer a specialist associate diploma program in entertainment management.

Amr Bin Ahmed Banajeh, the CEO of GEA, said: “This move will help integrate efforts of various authorities and achieve harmony between initiatives so as to come up with projects that bear real added value to the entertainment sector."

Banajeh reaffirmed GEA’s commitment to support qualitative initiatives that contribute to developing a sustainable sector and achieve socio-economic objectives.

The MoU will contribute to consolidating the partnership with the private sector by training the Saudi youth, creating job opportunities and developing specialist programs in the entertainment field, which is an important element of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, he added.

Banajeh stressed GEA’s keenness to support projects and initiatives aiming to develop innovative models and solutions to support the entertainment sector and ensure the achievement of stated goals within a comprehensive strategy, which aims to empower the Saudi youth and enhance their roles in the sector with competency and all necessary skills.