Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 17 October 2025(Kamran Raja): The exhibition accompanying Joy Forum 2025, held over two days (16–17 October) in Riyadh, serves as a global platform bringing together the largest and most influential international companies and institutions in entertainment, gaming, sports, media, technology, film and music production, and the development of entertainment destinations.
The exhibition, which is attracting strong interest from sector professionals, offers a live reflection of the Kingdom’s global standing that has made it a meeting point for leading companies shaping the future of the industry.
The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) is participating in the exhibition as the sector’s enabler and regulator in the Kingdom, and as a key driver in developing the entertainment industry locally and globally through fostering investment, granting licenses, facilitating partnerships, and empowering national talent.
The exhibition features more than twenty leading global entertainment and content companies, including CJ ENM from South Korea specializing in television and film production; Kakao Entertainment, active in music, drama, and talent management; and BH Entertainment, one of South Korea’s largest agencies in talent development and drama production.
Asian presence continues with major gaming and interactive entertainment powerhouses led by Nintendo, SEGA, and Bandai Namco—three of the most influential companies in the global gaming and anime industries—highlighting the importance of the Saudi market as a key hub for attracting these sectors.
The exhibition also includes major global sports entities such as LaLiga (the Spanish Football League), UFC (mixed martial arts), WWE (sports entertainment wrestling), and DAZN (live sports streaming). In addition, United Parks & Resorts showcases its expertise in operating major entertainment destinations and theme parks worldwide.
The exhibition highlights the strong presence of large-scale entertainment destinations, including Europa-Park, one of Europe’s most famous theme parks; Six Flags Qiddiya, the upcoming world-class entertainment project opening soon west of Riyadh; and Qiddiya, the national mega-project that integrates entertainment, sports, culture, and hospitality.
The regional and local depth of the exhibition is emphasized through leading Saudi companies such as Sela and Benchmark, both specialized in major live events and concerts, as well as Manga Productions, a successful Saudi model in animation, gaming, and comics.
BigTime Al-Hisan Studios also presents a fast-rising example of local production, established with the support of GEA and Riyadh Season.
In the fields of media, broadcasting, and audiovisual content, the exhibition features top global entities such as MBC Group, Rotana, Warner Music Group, and Snapchat, which offers communication and augmented reality solutions, in addition to WeBook (ticketing services) and Dark Horse Comics, one of the most important American comic book publishers.
The exhibition also strengthens the innovation and film production side through ARRI, the world leader in professional cinematic cameras and imaging technologies, reflecting a clear direction toward building a knowledge-based entertainment economy that integrates creativity with industry.
This exhibition serves as a global showcase for the latest innovations, partnership development, and knowledge exchange, where executives, company leaders, creators, and decision-makers gather to discuss future opportunities and launch high-impact projects.
Beyond showcasing brands, the exhibition offers interactive experiences, operational models, technological solutions, and real-world visions of the future of entertainment.