The General Entertainment Authority has invited citizens and interested parties to provide their feedback on the first draft of the Entertainment Regulation, which it has published on its website. The aim is to enable the public and stakeholders in both the private and public sectors to review the contents of the draft regulation, and to submit their comments and suggestions via the Authority’s website or the email address designated for this purpose, before the end of the day on June 30, 2018.
This initiative is part of the Authority’s efforts to regulate the entertainment sector in accordance with international best practices to create a suitable environment for hosting events and engaging in entertainment activities, and to create an environment that attracts investors to the entertainment sector to promote economic development, support local content, and foster small and medium-sized enterprises.
The draft regulation also establishes modern development concepts that meet the needs of beneficiaries and align with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Among the most prominent elements of the draft regulation is the definition and classification of recreational activities, which include the establishment and operation of amusement parks, water parks, entertainment centers, public and private parks, zoos, marine life aquariums, and similar facilities, as well as the organization of festivals, theatrical performances, concerts, choral and vocal performances, and live entertainment events, and the organization of fireworks displays and entertainment-oriented games.
The draft regulation introduces flexible and expedited mechanisms for issuing, renewing, amending, and revoking licenses for entertainment activities through the establishment of an electronic licensing system, as well as the option to submit a license application directly to the Authority if submission through the electronic system is not possible.
The unified electronic licensing system is characterized by its integration of all relevant government agencies, thereby facilitating the licensing process and ensuring access to the data, information, conditions, and requirements necessary for issuing licenses from other agencies.
In addition, the project introduced a unified electronic system through which tickets for entertainment activities are sold to the public and necessary information—such as dates and venues for these activities and events—is provided. On the other hand, given the modern nature of the entertainment sector and its status as a growing sector in the Kingdom, the system has urged the Authority to explore investment opportunities and facilitate them for investors, such as by proposing the allocation of certain lands for investment in the construction of entertainment facilities and the conduct of entertainment activities on them. For this purpose, the draft regulation provides for the authority to exempt small and medium-sized enterprises from the fees imposed by the regulation.
