In recognition of the role of the entertainment sector in building non-oil-based economies, Mashroo3k Consultancy Company presents the following key indicators of the sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries:
According to the latest statistics, the number of museums in the GCC countries is 306, with the number of visitors reaching 6,032,840.
The number of hotel establishments in the GCC is 11,119.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
-
The number of entertainment events reached 690, with a total of 9,784 days. The number of attendees at these events was 34,699,458 individuals.
-
The number of museums related to archaeology, history, and heritage is 33.
-
The number of private museums is 195.
-
There are 8,499 archaeological sites, with 178,020 visit permits issued annually for these sites.
-
It is expected that the entertainment sector will contribute 4.2% to Saudi Arabia’s GDP in the coming years.
In the United Arab Emirates:
-
The number of museums reached 41, with 2,322,807 visitors.
-
There are 260 public parks.
In the Sultanate of Oman:
-
The number of museums in Oman has reached 12, with the number of visitors exceeding 408,000.
-
Oman has 51 forts and castles, with 427,000 visitors to these historic sites.
In Qatar:
-
The number of sports facilities reached 291, with the majority being football stadiums (90 stadiums) and 37 covered halls in second place.
-
There are 99 cinemas with a total seating capacity of 14,108 seats. The total number of films shown in these cinemas, according to the latest statistics, is 3,549.
-
The total annual number of visitors to museums and exhibitions in Qatar is 1,038,470.
In the State of Kuwait:
-
The number of visitors to the Kuwait Tourism Projects Company, which offers various recreational services, was 1,308,514 individuals.
-
The number of visitors to museums in Kuwait is 108,987.
-
Kuwait has 814 libraries, with the total number of classified books exceeding 2,087,513.
The GCC Governments’ Efforts:
The governments of the GCC countries aim 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, these governments have adopted initiatives to increase the number of parks, live entertainment shows, and encourage visual and audio arts.
It is expected that the entertainment and hospitality construction market in the GCC will reach USD 642.3 billion by 2023, compared to an estimated market value of USD 466.9 billion in 2019.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the GCC is expected to receive 195 million visitors by 2030.
Global Entertainment Sector:
In 2021, the global entertainment and media market reached a value of 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.