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ANALYSIS
Leisure & Tourism
Experience the Kingdom
SAUDI ARABIA
Thomas Gateff, co-founder and managing partner, M2L Concepts, looks at how Saudi Arabia’s design industry is set to change the MENA region’s tourism and entertainment sectors
November 2022 | MEConstructionNews.com
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hile most countries take decades or even centuries to make their mark on the world, some don’t let time become a limitation. Since the last global recession, many countries have realised that empowering their economies by focusing on the tried and tested global industries of tourism, construction, entertainment, and hospitality can bring in needed long-term sustainability and prosperity. However, none can claim the sheer size of the vision Saudi Arabia has set for itself. The Kingdom has in just the last few years taken considerable steps to ensure its place on the global stage. No other sector can vouch for this more than the experience design and tourism industries.
When considering the largest economy in the Middle East, one must account for the long-term vision of its Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman. In just a few years, he brought changes to laws that have been untouchable for decades, to make the country more palatable to its rapidly growing young population. In a surprise move in 2018, the government ended a 30-year ban on cinemas. In just 3 years, this saw the creation of 45 movie theatres with more than 1,000 films screened. This was followed by the introduction of a series of annual festivals throughout the country’s biggest cities titled Saudi Seasons, featuring concerts, automotive races and restaurant culture amongst other innumerable entertainment experiences, underscoring