GEA celebrates the graduation of the fourth cohort of the Entertainment Leaders and Entertainment Fellowship programs

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) celebrated yesterday evening (Tuesday) the graduation of the fourth cohort of the Entertainment Leaders and Entertainment Fellowship programs. A total of 31 leaders graduated from the Entertainment Leaders program, alongside 42 trainees from the Entertainment Fellowship program, following a six-month training journey that included in-person workshops, leadership mentoring sessions, and international field visits to the United Kingdom, culminating in a closing ceremony.
Both programs are supported by the Quality of Life Program, one of the initiatives of Saudi Vision 2030, reflecting a commitment to investing in national talents and empowering them to enhance their skills and capabilities to contribute to the growth and sustainability of the entertainment sector.
In his speech during the ceremony, GEA CEO Eng. Faisal Bafarat emphasized that what distinguishes this graduation is not only the number of graduates, but also the inspiring success stories created by the sons and daughters of the Kingdom. He highlighted that investment in people is the most sustainable form of investment, noting that today’s graduates represent true partners in creating happiness and active contributors to shaping the future of the entertainment sector.
He added: “At the General Entertainment Authority, under the leadership of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, we believe that the future of the entertainment sector will be built with your efforts. Today, you are not just graduates, but partners in creating happiness for our society and contributors to shaping the future of a nation that thrives on the vision and ambition of its people.”
For his part, Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Humaid, GEA’s Deputy CEO for Human Capital and Administrative Affairs, stated: “We are proud today to witness the fruits of the Happiness Creators initiative, which was launched to prepare a distinguished group of pioneers in the sector and empower them to lead the entertainment industry in the Kingdom. The creativity and competence we have witnessed reflect the level of ambition and commitment they hold.”
He added: “The Authority continues to support the initiative and expand its scope to provide more opportunities, thereby enhancing human capital in the entertainment sector. This will make the Kingdom a global destination for entertainment and enable our youth to be active partners in this success.”
The ceremony also highlighted graduate success stories through two inspiring experiences, while the graduation was accompanied by the Happiness Creators Forum, which brought together all graduates of the Entertainment Leaders program from the four cohorts—over 120 leaders in total—and graduates of the Entertainment Fellowship program, totaling more than 180 trainees.
The forum aimed to enhance networking, exchange knowledge and experiences among graduates, and included panel discussions as well as participation from companies showcasing their services at dedicated booths.
This achievement reaffirms the commitment of the General Entertainment Authority to training and empowering national talent to serve as a cornerstone for the development of the entertainment sector, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.