GEA Wins Gold Stevie for Workforce Upskilling

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) in Saudi Arabia has won a Gold Stevie Award at the 2026 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, in the category of “Innovation in Workforce Upskilling and Reskilling – Government.” The recognition was awarded for GEA’s Happiness Creators Initiative and its integrated workforce development strategy.

The award highlights GEA’s human capital development approach in the entertainment sector, which focuses on strengthening professional capabilities and workforce readiness, equipping Saudi talent with skills that match the evolving needs of the industry, and applying sustainable practices that raise the readiness of national cadres.

How the framework works

GEA delivers its upskilling and reskilling programs through sector-specific tracks and certifications. These include the Saudi Entertainment Academy and an Entertainment Business Accelerator that supports small and medium enterprises and talent in the sector. GEA also issues ticketing and admissions certifications for entertainment activities, as well as event security and crowd management certifications.

Under the Happiness Creators umbrella, the Entertainment Leaders Program stands out as a flagship leadership initiative. It targets senior leaders in the sector and runs for five months in a flexible, non–full-time format that allows participants to keep working while they train. The program combines workshops, one-on-one mentoring, international field visits, and access to a digital library throughout its duration.

For the community, the recognition reflects a growing focus on building qualified national talent within the entertainment sector, one of the fast-expanding areas of the economy. These are sectoral training and certification programs run directly through GEA and its affiliated academies and accelerators, rather than individual employment or residency services. No public 2026 details are currently available on exact participation fees, application steps, payment channels, or validity periods; enrollment conditions are handled directly through GEA and its affiliated bodies.

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