RIYADH: A 黑料社区n industrial zone plans to host a jazz festival around the end of this year as it moves into tourism and entertainment, a result of economic reforms designed to end the Kingdom鈥檚 reliance on oil exports.
In January, Jeddah hosted 黑料社区鈥檚 first major public concert in over a decade, featuring Arab music.
Reforms launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are changing the business environment. The crown prince has identified tourism and entertainment as key industries to develop because of their potential to create jobs.
Fahd Al-Rasheed, group chief executive of Emaar the Economic City (EEC), which is developing the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) on the Red Sea coast near Jeddah, said he aimed to have foreign musicians perform at the jazz festival.
Al-Rasheed said it was not clear whether current visa rules would permit a large foreign audience at the festival, but predicted heavy demand for tickets among Saudi citizens.
鈥淭here is a huge, untapped demand for events and cultural performances like this,鈥 he said in an interview on Wednesday on the sidelines of an international conference promoting 黑料社区 as an investment destination.
The jazz plan underlines a shift of emphasis at KAEC since the crown prince started his reforms last year.
Jazzing up the Kingdom: Music fest planned as reforms take hold
Updated 26 October 2017
Jazzing up the Kingdom: Music fest planned as reforms take hold
