Believing in the role of the entertainment sector in building non-oil-dependent economies, Mashroo3k Consulting 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 stands at 306, with a total of 6,032,840 visitors.
The number of hotel establishments in the GCC countries is 11,119.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
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The number of entertainment events reached 690, with a total of 9,784 event days. These events attracted 34,699,458 attendees.
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There are 33 museums dedicated to archaeology, history, and heritage.
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The number of private museums is 195.
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There are 8,499 archaeological sites, with 178,020 visit permits issued annually.
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The entertainment sector is expected to contribute 4.2% to Saudi Arabia’s GDP in the coming years.
In the United Arab Emirates:
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According to the latest statistics, the number of museums has reached 41, with 2,322,807 visitors.
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There are 260 public parks.
In the Sultanate of Oman:
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The number of museums has reached 12, with more than 408,000 visitors recorded.
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Oman has 51 forts and castles, which attracted 427,000 visitors.
In Qatar:
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Qatar has 291 sports facilities, with football stadiums being the most common (90 stadiums), followed by indoor sports halls (37 halls).
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There are 99 cinemas with a total seating capacity of 14,108. The number of films screened, according to the latest statistics, is 3,549.
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The annual number of visitors to museums and exhibitions in Qatar is 1,038,470.
In Kuwait:
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The number of visitors to the Kuwait Touristic Enterprises Company, which provides various entertainment and recreational services, has reached 1,308,514.
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Museum visitors in Kuwait total 108,987.
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Kuwait has 814 libraries, with a classified collection of over 2,087,513 books.
The governments of the GCC countries are striving 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 launched initiatives aimed at increasing the number of parks, live entertainment shows, and encouraging visual and performing arts.
The entertainment and hospitality construction market in the GCC is expected to reach $642.3 billion by 2023, up from $466.9 billion in 2019.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the GCC countries are expected to receive 195 million visitors by 2030.
The Global Entertainment Sector:
In 2021, the global entertainment and media market was valued at $2.34 trillion. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%, reaching $2.93 trillion by 2026.



