His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority, inaugurated the new headquarters of Benchmark Group in Jeddah. During his visit, His Excellency toured the Abadi Al-Johar Theater, which he described as a unique architectural masterpiece, emphasizing its prominent role in supporting the infrastructure of the entertainment sector and organizing major events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The inauguration was attended by the company's Chairman of the Board, Zaki Hassanein, and CEO, Mohammed Zaki Hassanein.
The Saudi entertainment renaissance and Vision 2030
This opening comes amidst the radical transformations the Kingdom has witnessed since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, which has made the entertainment sector a cornerstone for diversifying income sources and improving quality of life. Historically, Jeddah has long been known as the Kingdom's gateway to culture and the arts, and with the establishment of the General Entertainment Authority, the city has experienced an unprecedented boom in the development of state-of-the-art entertainment facilities. The public-private partnership, exemplified by collaborations with leading national companies, is a strategic step towards solidifying Saudi Arabia's position as a global tourism and entertainment destination.
Inspection tour to support national cadres
During the visit, Al-Sheikh toured the administrative offices and various departments of the new headquarters, where he was briefed on the operational workflow. He also met with the company's young staff, receiving a detailed explanation of the most prominent initiatives and future plans supporting the organization of entertainment activities. His Excellency expressed his pride in the remarkable presence of young Saudi talent, emphasizing that empowering national youth is one of the Authority's most important objectives to ensure the sustainability and development of the entertainment sector according to the highest professional standards.
Abadi Al-Johar Theater: An artistic icon in the Middle East
Following the administrative tour, His Excellency the Advisor visited the Abadi Al-Johar Arena, where he inspected the main theater facilities and the banquet halls. He reviewed the state-of-the-art technology the theater boasts, which was specifically designed to support the hosting of major events. At the conclusion of his tour, Al-Sheikh affirmed that the Abadi Al-Johar Arena is a true architectural masterpiece and ranks among the most beautiful theaters in the Middle East. He noted that its advanced technological capabilities make it an ideal platform for hosting the largest artistic and theatrical performances, thus enhancing Jeddah's infrastructure readiness.
The economic and cultural impact of entertainment projects
The impact of these development projects extends far beyond entertainment, encompassing profound economic and cultural dimensions. Locally, these facilities contribute to creating thousands of job opportunities for Saudi youth and supporting local content. Regionally, these developments position Jeddah as a strong competitor to leading tourist destinations, attracting visitors and artists from across the Arab world. Internationally, the adoption of global production and organizational standards reflects the Kingdom's positive image and its capacity to host major international events, thus enhancing its soft power and cultural presence on the global stage.
Strategic partnerships towards a sustainable future
The Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority added that the Saudi market presents promising opportunities that necessitate strengthening the presence of national production companies in partnership with specialized entities both locally and internationally. In this regard, officials from Benchmark expressed their deep gratitude to His Excellency Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh for his unwavering support and continuous guidance. They affirmed their commitment to keeping pace with the Kingdom's remarkable development by providing high-quality and exceptional entertainment experiences that effectively contribute to realizing the wise leadership's aspirations for building a sustainable sector that enhances the quality of life.
