In light of Mashroo3k Consulting Company’s belief in the role of the entertainment sector in building non-oil economies, we present below the key indicators for the sector in the GCC countries:
According to the latest statistics, the number of museums in the GCC countries stands at 306 museums, with a total of 6,032,840 visitors.
The number of hotel establishments in the GCC is 11,119.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
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The number of entertainment events reached 690, totaling 9,784 days. The number of attendees at these events was 34,699,458 individuals.
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There are 33 museums of archaeology, history, and heritage.
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The number of private museums is 195.
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There are 8,499 archaeological sites, with 178,020 annual visitor permits issued.
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The entertainment sector is expected to contribute 4.2% to Saudi Arabia’s GDP in the coming years.
In the United Arab Emirates:
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The latest statistics show that the UAE has 41 museums, with 2,322,807 visitors.
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There are 260 public parks.
In the Sultanate of Oman:
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The country has 12 museums, with over 408,000 visitors.
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Oman also has 51 forts and castles, which attract 427,000 visitors.
In Qatar:
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Qatar has 291 sports facilities, with the majority being football fields (90 stadiums) and covered halls (37 halls).
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The country has 99 cinemas, with a total seating capacity of 14,108. The number of films shown at these cinemas, according to the latest statistics, is 3,549.
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The total annual visitors to museums and exhibitions in Qatar is 1,038,470.
In Kuwait:
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The number of visitors to the Kuwaiti Tourist Projects Company, which offers many recreational services, reached 1,308,514.
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The number of museum visitors in Kuwait is 108,987.
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There are 814 libraries in Kuwait, with over 2,087,513 books cataloged.
The governments of the GCC countries are striving to improve the quality of life and provide a high level of well-being for their citizens by investing in the entertainment sector. In recent years, we have seen how these governments have adopted initiatives aimed at increasing the number of parks, live entertainment shows, and encouraging visual and auditory arts.
The entertainment and hospitality construction market in the GCC is expected to reach USD 642.3 billion by 2023, compared to USD 466.9 billion in 2019. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the GCC countries are poised to welcome 195 million visitors by 2030.
Global Entertainment Sector:
In 2021, the global entertainment and media market was valued at USD 2.34 trillion, and it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%, reaching USD 2.93 trillion by 2026.