General Entertainment Authority Launches Entertainment Innovations

The General Entertainment Authority has launched the Entertainment Innovations program, a new initiative designed to spark creativity and entrepreneurial thinking within Saudi Arabia’s growing entertainment sector. The program aims to empower local talent and startups to develop ideas and solutions that drive the industry’s growth and global competitiveness.

Open for registration, the initiative will select over 100 participants, who will be grouped into multidisciplinary teams and guided by mentors and industry experts. The program unfolds in several stages, beginning with online registration, followed by screening, team formation, and a virtual bootcamp. The process culminates in a three-day challenge where finalists pitch their projects to a judging panel before winners are announced.

Participants will develop business models, brand identities, prototypes, and go-to-market strategies—translating creative ideas into viable projects that align with the Kingdom’s entertainment development goals. The program also aims to foster collaboration between creators, investors, and sector specialists.

The initiative targets three main outcomes: promoting innovation in entertainment, attracting talent in tech, design, and entrepreneurship, and expanding the pool of young creatives shaping Saudi Arabia’s cultural future. Prizes totalling SAR 300,000 (around USD 80,000), along with support packages worth more than USD 1 million, will be awarded to the top three winning teams.