January 28, 2026 | Industry Insights
Dazzling lights, unforgettable moments, and a parade of the Arab world’s biggest names—the 2026 Joy Awards made one thing clear: the region’s entertainment industry is on a powerful upward trajectory. With “arena-scale performances, cross-cultural collaborations, and genre-spanning moments,” the ceremony reflected an industry that is growing not only in scale but also in confidence (Billboard, 2026). From a rapidly evolving music scene to a film industry gaining global recognition, the spotlight is growing brighter. And with it, a new array of careers is on the rise.
A Rapidly Evolving Sector
Across the MENA region, entertainment has become a core pillar of the creative economy. Driven by young audiences, sustained public and private investment, and a rapidly diversifying content landscape, sectors once seen as peripheral—social media, film, gaming—are now central engines of growth (Forbes, 2026).
The cinema industry in Saudi Arabia illustrates this shift. Today it is home to 66 cinemas and 618 screens across more than 20 cities, unlocking new revenue streams and career pathways for local and regional filmmakers (Al Majalla, 2025).
This momentum extends beyond film. In Q3 2025 alone, Saudi Arabia hosted 468 entertainment events across 116 cities, attracting 12.6 million visitors. During the same period, the number of entertainment companies operating in the Kingdom rose to 6,499—underscoring sustained growth, expanding reach, and rising investment (Economy Middle East, 2025).
As the sector scales, it is increasingly reshaping workforce demand across Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. The industry is projected to create up to 450,000 jobs and contribute 4.2% to Saudi Arabia’s GDP by 2030—signalling not only economic growth but a structural shift in employment (Arab News, 2024). As employment shifts accelerate, the challenge for organizations is no longer whether to hire, but how to build workforces capable of keeping pace with the sector’s evolving demands.
Growth Demands Smarter Workforce Solutions
This pace of expansion requires HR leaders to move beyond reactive hiring toward workforce strategies that support long-term industry sustainability and economic development. Recruitment Strategy & Planning must anticipate shifting skills needs across content production, live events, digital media, gaming, and platform operations—supported by skills mapping and assessment to build adaptable talent pipelines and hire with intent.
Equally critical is Contract Staffing. In an industry defined by projects, seasons, and peak cycles, flexible staffing models enable organizations to scale efficiently without compromising quality or continuity. When combined with data-led workforce planning, localized talent development, and agile hiring frameworks, these approaches help build resilient teams that can support sustained growth across the region.
A thriving entertainment sector depends on what happens behind the scenes. At Fisher, we ensure your workforce is planned, sourced, and ready to scale—so when it comes time to say “Ready, set, action,” everything is already in place.
References:
Al Majalla. (2025). Saudi entertainment: Soft power growing as an economic force.
https://en.majalla.com/node/327953/business-economy/saudi-entertainment-soft-growing-economic-power
Arab News. (2024). Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector expected to create 450,000 jobs by 2030.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2580198/business-economy
Billboard. (2026). Joy Awards 2026 turns Riyadh into a global live music hub with Katy Perry, Robbie Williams and Liz Mitchell of Boney M.
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/joy-awards-2026-1236159416/
Economy Middle East. (2025). Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector sees 12.6 million visitors, 48.9 percent surge in licenses in Q3 2025.
Forbes Business Council. (2026, January 21). Beyond Hollywood: The future of content in the MENA region. Forbes.
General Entertainment Authority. (2025). GEA 2025 highlights. https://www.gea.gov.sa/en/media-center/news/gea-2025/
