New Rules: No Entertainment Events in KSA Without GEA License
A new regulation governing entertainment activities in Saudi Arabia now requires all organisers and operators to obtain prior authorisation from the General Entertainment Authority, with penalties for violators reaching up to SAR 1,000,000. The Entertainment Activities and Supporting Activities Regulation was approved by the Cabinet on 16 June 2026.
Under the rules, no entertainment activity, supporting activity, entertainment city, entertainment centre, amusement park, or entertainment event may operate without authorisation. A license is required to run an entertainment city, centre, or permanent facility, while a permit is needed to organise any event, show, or live performance.
Penalties and enforcement
Operating without the required license or permit can lead to a financial fine of up to SAR 1,000,000, a ban from practising any entertainment or supporting activity for up to five years, and cancellation or suspension of the relevant license, permit, or accreditation certificate. Violators may also be added to a blacklist for up to five years; a recorded violation remains on the account and is not dropped until one full year passes with no further breaches.
Penalties may be doubled if the same violation is repeated within a year. Authorities can order the partial or full closure of an event or facility — temporarily or permanently — where there is a safety risk or a clear legal breach, until the situation is corrected. Recent enforcement examples include fines up to SAR 750,000 and complete closure of facilities until violations are fixed.
The regulation also allows the authority to collect a share of ticket sale proceeds for licensed events, capped at 10% of each ticket's value. For residents and businesses, the message is clear: securing the correct license or permit before organising any activity is now essential to avoid heavy fines, closures, and reputational damage.
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