Riyadh, July 04, 2019, SPA -- The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has initiated an international scholarship program in entertainment disciplines at the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, instating the first batch of students in partnership with Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC). The program aims to educate and train students at the most prestigious universities in the world, including this first batch at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College, to enhance employability and skills that meet the labor market trends of the entertainment sector while equipping sponsored students with the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them to work in this emerging sector. The first batch includes on the job training for the selected students at a Six Flags Park in the United States, as well as a job at Qiddiya upon successful completion of the program. The program will enable Qiddiya to achieve its goal of offering a significant portion of future employment opportunities to Saudi nationals, as over 25,000 jobs are expected to be available by 2030. CEO of General Entertainment Authority Amr Banja Said: “This cooperative effort between GEA and Qiddiya reiterates GEA commitment towards developing the entertainment sector and empowering it through local talent. He added that the scholarship program seeks to develop local content by adopting local expertise in a global perspective that comes in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals and enables the growth in the sector to become a promising sector.” CEO of Qiddiya Investment Company Michael Reininger said: “Our partnership with GEA is an example of QIC’s concerted efforts to build and foster a new breed of skilled professionals that will service newly-created sectors in the Kingdom and cultivate the human resources that will be instrumental in developing them to their full potential. We are proud of this partnership, and we look forward to welcoming the sponsored students back, upon completion of their degrees, to work at Qiddiya and apply their learning and experiences to real life scenarios and begin their journey of successful careers in this rapidly growing sector”. Through this program, GEA aims to achieve its strategic goals of developing and boosting local content, increasing the entertainment sector’s contributions to GDP, and capacity development to the Kingdom’s cadre of talents positioned to work in diverse fields as part of its targets within the Quality of Life Program one of the Saudi Vision 2030 programs. For registration a webpage was set on the link: https://www.gea.gov.sa/hr-development/qiddiya/ About the General Entertainment Authority: In line with one of the pillars of the Kingdom's vision 2030 in creating a vibrant society, the General Entertainment Authority has been established to organize, develop, and lead the entertainment sector to provide exciting entertainment options, and tailored experiences to the needs of people from all walks of life around Saudi Arabia. Also, to stimulate the role of the private sector in building and developing entertainment activities. The General Entertainment Authority contributes to supporting the Saudi economy by participating in diversifying its sources, raising its gross domestic product, supporting small and medium enterprises and increasing the proportion of foreign direct investment in the entertainment sector. About Qiddiya Investment Company: The Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) was incorporated on 10th May, 2018, as a closed joint-stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. QIC will drive the development of Qiddiya, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s pre-eminent multifaceted entertainment destination, home of inspiration, discovery and engagement. Announced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and of PIF, on 7th April, 2017, Qiddiya is a transformational project that will be built 40km from downtown Riyadh, with a total area of 334 sq. km. Visitors will enjoy access to a range of diverse activities and services across five innovatively designed cornerstones: Sports & Wellness; Nature & Environment; Parks & Attractions; Motion & Mobility; and Arts & Culture. The development of these areas will give rise to:  high-end theme parks; water and snow-based activities; numerous sports arenas capable of hosting international competitions and world-class training academies; race tracks for motorsport enthusiasts; outdoor and adventure activities alongside nature and environment experiences; and an array of historical, cultural and educational activities and events. Qiddiya will also include a variety of real estate options and community services. A core element of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, Qiddiya will unlock tremendous opportunity, enabling economic diversification, while enhancing the quality of life for Saudi citizens. The project broke ground on 28th April, 2018 and phase one is set to open in 2022. A three-phased approach is currently underway for the entire project. 2019 will see the launch of the Visitor Experience Centre, the reveal of the masterplan as well as the start of construction for phase one. Twitter: @Qiddiya Website: www.qiddiya.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qiddiya-investment-company/ --SPA 15:15 LOCAL TIME 12:15 GMT 0015 www.spa.gov.sa/w1131399