A delegation of Saudi officials, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met with Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger on Wednesday to pitch his bold new plans to build an entertainment industry largely from the ground up to about 250 representatives from major Hollywood financiers and players.
Saudi Arabia has been undergoing a massive economic and social transformation under the ambitious Vision 2030 reform plan launched by the crown prince two years ago, according to a report from Arab News. A handful of deals have already been secured including one with AMC, the world’s largest movie theater company which as been granted the first licenses to operate movie theaters in the Middle Eastern country after the lifting of a 35-year-old ban on cinemas in the Middle Eastern country.
At the meeting they discussed potential cooperation in the entertainment, culture and film-making arenas. The meeting highlighted the massive opportunities which exist in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where a solid infrastructure and a massive demand for Disney products and services exist.
In addition to re-opening cinemas, the country has announced it is lifting the ban on women driving and that it has curbed the powers of its religious police. Women now can also attend sporting events, and Saudi officials are loosening dress-code restrictions for women, who have traditionally been required to cover most of their bodies and faces and be accompanied by male chaperones. The country has established the General Authority for Entertainment (GEA), a government body empowered to meet the massive demand for entertainment in the Saudi kingdom
The Saudi kingdom, which boasts a population of 32 million and receives millions of Muslims every year for Hajj and Umra pilgrimage, is strengthening its non-religious tourism sector and has plans to issue new guidelines for visas which will open-up the country to visitors from around the world. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has just signed an agreement with Six Flags to develop and design an amusement park in Riyadh and one might wonder if Iger and the crown prince might be considering a Disney theme park for the country as well.
Feld Entertainment and the new GEA are entering a long-term relationship to produce international events, including “Disney on Ice,” “Disney Live,” “Marvel Experience,” and “Monster Jam.” This collaboration also gives Saudis an opportunity to receive training as professional performers.
The crown prince also met with a group of heads of US entertainment and media companies and discussed areas of cooperation and partnership in the media and entertainment sectors, and reviewed the latest technologies in this regard.
