Spectacular lineup revealed for Riyadh Season 2025

Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, revealed a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (Supplied)
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Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, revealed a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (Supplied)
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, revealed a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (Supplied)
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Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, revealed a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (Supplied)
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
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Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
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Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
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Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
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Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
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Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (AN photo by Rahaf Jambi)
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, revealed a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (Supplied)
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Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, revealed a bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday. (Supplied)
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Updated 05 October 2025
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Spectacular lineup revealed for Riyadh Season 2025

Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, reveals bold lineup for Riyadh Season 2025 on Sunday.Supplied
  • New season — set to begin on Friday, Oct. 10 — would feature an expanded range of entertainment zones
  • There will also be record-breaking sporting events and large-scale cultural celebrations

RIYADH: A bold lineup had been revealed on Sunday for Riyadh Season 2025, with a range events which will reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a key destination for leisure and entertainment.

Announcing the program on Sunday, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, said the new season — set to begin on Friday, Oct. 10 — would feature an expanded range of entertainment zones, record-breaking sporting events and large-scale cultural celebrations.

Among the highlights will be new international zones at Boulevard World offering immersive cultural experiences inspired by Kuwait, South Korea and Indonesia.

The new additions reflect Riyadh Season’s growing global scope and commitment to fostering international cultural exchange.

One of the most highly anticipated new attractions is Beast Land, developed in collaboration with global influencer MrBeast, one of the world’s leading content creators. The zone will include more than 40 retail and dining outlets, adventure gardens and daily competitions.

The zone is expected to be one of the season’s major draws, with MrBeast set to attend the zone’s grand opening.

Riyadh Season 2025 will also host a series of world-class sporting and entertainment events, including the Six Kings Slam Tennis Championship, the Ring IV boxing card, the prestigious Joy Awards and the Jewelry Salon exhibition.

In a historic first, the WWE Royal Rumble will be held in January 2026, marking its debut outside North America and underlining Riyadh’s growing role as a global sporting hub.

On the business front, the Joy Forum on Oct. 16-17 will bring together leading entertainment executives and professionals for high-level discussions, networking and industry partnerships.

Meanwhile, Via Riyadh will host “Ana Arabia,” a cultural celebration dedicated to Arab heritage, creativity and identity which will feature art, music and performances.

Riyadh Season 2025 aligns with the Kingdom’s broader cultural and economic transformation, fostering investment in the entertainment sector and supporting Saudi talent.

The upcoming season places strong emphasis on combining local creativity with global expertise, ensuring visitors experience both international quality and authentic Saudi character.


Japan, Saudi Arabia foster gaming talent through Tokyo bootcamp

Japan, Saudi Arabia foster gaming talent through Tokyo bootcamp
Updated 6 sec ago
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Japan, Saudi Arabia foster gaming talent through Tokyo bootcamp

Japan, Saudi Arabia foster gaming talent through Tokyo bootcamp
  • Sessions cover design, scenario writing, sound, esports
  • Best industry training ever received, say 10 participants

TOKYO: Emerging Saudi Arabia gamers recently received specialized training at a “Japan Game Business Bootcamp” in Tokyo.

The program was run by the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East, in partnership with the Saudi Digital Academy under the Kingdom’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The three-week JCCME program ran from Oct. 13 to 31, bringing together 10 developers, including four women, selected by the SDA for their ambition to turn professional.

The bootcamp aimed to equip participants, who had already mastered the basics of game creation, with the technical and business skills needed to work independently. Training was led by leading figures from Japan’s game development and business sectors.

The 2025 edition was officially recognized as a commemorative event marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

With support from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Japan, the program concluded with a final pitch session attended by the Kingdom’s ambassador Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, during which participants presented their own game projects.

Entertainment is a key pillar of the Japan–Saudi Vision 2030 plan, developed by both governments.

In line with this framework, Saudi Arabia launched its National Gaming and Esports Strategy in 2022, identifying the industry as a major national growth sector.

To support this goal, the JCCME, working with Ludimus Inc., created the bootcamp to tap into Japan’s gaming expertise and train the next generation of Saudi creators.

The three-week course combined lectures, studio visits, and hands-on mentoring.

Twenty sessions covered topics including game design, development planning, XR games, scenario writing, sound design and esports.

Instructors included producers of hit Japanese titles, virtual reality pioneers and university lecturers, sparking lively exchanges between participants and mentors.

The developers toured leading Japanese gaming companies and startups, gaining firsthand insight into the country’s creative ecosystem and meeting professionals behind global hits.

Participants refined their own game projects throughout the program. On the final day, they pitched their games and business plans at the Saudi Embassy in Tokyo.

Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive.

“I learned about the history of the Japanese gaming industry and how to collaborate with it,” said one participant.

“The best experience was visiting the studios and talking directly to developers,” another added.

Others described the program as the best training they had received, praising both the technical insights and the networking opportunities it provided.