Event Manager: Working In Saudi Arabia

Our event manager Michael has had lots of experience working in Saudi Arabia on large-scale events. Most notably, Julia Charles Event Management was chosen to create, design, build and run The Horror Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Julia Charles Event Management has had lots of experience working internationally, with our sister company Global Events Agency. We are proud to have created events across the globe from Dubai to Venice and Saudi Arabia to Las Vegas.

---

Saudi Arabia Horror Festival Event

There are many challenges and factors to consider when creating events abroad.

We speak to our Event Manager Michael all about organising The Horror Festival in Saudi Arabia and how Julia Charles Event Management manages international events and the key areas to consider when planning your own international event.

---

Global Logistics

This is one of the most important factors to consider when working internationally. Each country may have different restrictions or requirements. Therefore, it is very important that logistics are one of the first elements that you consider.

Additionally, each event and client is different. Therefore all of your logistics will need to cater for this.

In the Interview with Michael, he explains that by gaining support from the local government, we were able to deliver on a lot of the logistics needed. This helped particularly when new event ideas or requests were formed by the client. Being resourceful and using the skills and knowledge of those locally will ultimately drive the success of your event. 

An example of this was when working on Horror Festival we had to put contingencies in place to ship props and entertainment to Saudi Arabia at the last minute if the client decided that they wanted additional elements. This required lots of pre-planning and organisation to ensure we could meet our client’s last-minute requests.

As an event management company working globally, it is very important to anticipate your client’s needs.

---

Our Event Management in KSA

Vision 2030 is really paving the way for creative, large-scale events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2019 Joy Forum took place in Riyadh to showcase to the world what Saudi Arabia has to offer in the Tourism and Leisure industry.

Naturally, this included lots of plans for giant events, encouraging not just locals but visitors from across the globe to experience Saudi Arabia.

As an Event Management Company, we have been working closely with clients in the Kingdom to come up with exciting and jaw-dropping events, showing off what Saudi Arabia can offer to the global events industry.

---

The Future of Events in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. In fact, according to Arabian Business, in the first quarter of 2022, Saudi Arabia has seen its fastest growth since 2011.

Additionally, the KSA government is projecting to increase household spending on entertainment and cultural activities from 2.6% to 6% as part of its 2030 vision.

This is big news for the events sector, with many festivals, exhibitions, arenas and entertainment centres opening up for business. All with an aim to create a world-class international tourist destination.

---

How to Win Event Management Work in Saudi Arabia

Working on events in Saudi Arabia is great and has the potential to build many new professional relationships in the Middle East. However, it can be tricky to land that first event management job and with some barriers to entry for foreign businesses or individuals, it can seem like a daunting task.

However, with the right skill set and some planning and preparation, propositioning yourself for the Saudi market isn’t that daunting. Follow our six-point plan to get you started on winning your next event management project:

1. Research

Understand the market and know what your barriers to entry are. Getting to grips with the technical standard and regulations, along with international and local policies in place for foreign workers is essential to address any issues as soon as possible.

2. Network

Speak and connect with professionals on social platforms such as LinkedIn. Introduce yourself and the services you can offer. Connecting and building professional relationships is essential in any business and in any country so get yourself and your events management business known to those who make the big decisions.

3. Bid for tenders

Tenders are really important and should play a big part in seeking event management work in Saudi Arabia. In fact, the majority of government contracts are still handed out via a tendering process.

4. Build a marketing strategy

Most likely if you’re a business, you already have a marketing strategy in place. If you are planning to expand your work internationally, you will need a marketing plan to reflect how you are going to do this and what you are going to do. Highlighting key milestones is great for achieving time-framed targets.

5. Make sure you are offering the right services

At Julia Charles Event Management, we had to select certain services we were offering. The services we chose were the ones we knew would make the biggest impact and fit perfectly with the creative and inspiring vision Saudi Arabia was aiming for.

6. Be patient

Getting work in Saudi Arabia is not going to happen overnight unless you are extremely lucky. As long as you are offering the right services, bidding for work and getting in touch with the right people, it will only be a matter of time until your first events project comes through. Although, you may need to tweak your offering continually, so be patient but not complacent.

---

Top Tips For Event Management in Saudi Arabia

Putting on events in Saudi Arabia has many similarities to the UK and other countries around the world. There are, however, very clear differences both culturally and professionally. It’s important to be prepared and well-planned. Follow our top tips below to help your next event management project in Saudi Arabia a breeze.

1. Understand the cultural differences

Make sure you always consider the country the event is taking place in. Are there any cultural or religious factors that should be considered to determine what may or may not be appropriate in that country.

2. Overcome any language barriers

Do you need a translator? Communication is integral to creating an exceptional event. Don’t let the brief get lost in translation.

3. Plan your time effectively

What are the time constraints? Work from the end of the event backwards. This will help you ensure that you have all elements planned in with plenty of time to spare.

4. Use local talent

Source local. If possible we find that a lot of international clients really support us sourcing suppliers locally. Not only does it put money into the local economy, but it will also save money on lots of potentially high transportation costs.

5. Think about your audience

Consider where attendees may be coming from. If they are also international you could propose turning the event into a Hybrid event.

---

We hope the above blog has given you an insight into what it is like working in Saudi Arabia as an event manager, as well as providing you with some valuable tips and tricks on how to conduct business in the Kingdom.

If you want to find out more about our international events or hire an event manager to run your next event in KSA or anywhere else in the world then get in touch with our team.