RIYADH — The National Committee for Digital Transformation has chosen the Entertainment Portal "Tarfeeh", established by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), from among more than 800 digital projects, with the aim of developing and organizing the entertainment sector and supporting its infrastructure, as part of a group of national digital projects.

Since its inception, the portal has enabled investors and companies operating in the sector to request licenses and permits for recreational activities and events, and to apply for accreditation certificates for specialized activities in the entertainment sector.

The portal project comes within the framework of GEA’s efforts to support digital transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by automating all internal procedures, services and processes pertaining to the licensing and permit issuance.

It also facilitates business and procedures for investors and those wishing to provide entertainment services, as the portal provides four main services: permits for entertainment events, licenses for entertainment activities, restaurants and cafes registration services, and facilities for service providers.

During 2020, GEA issued, through the portal, 117 permits for entertainment activities, 219 licenses for operating entertainment facilities, and 398 permits for live shows in restaurants and cafes.

The portal also enabled 188 investors to obtain a license to manage and develop artistic and entertainment talents. The number of restaurants and cafes registered in the portal in order to obtain permits for live performances was in excess of 410.

The Kingdom is taking clear steps towards expanding its economic base and keeping pace with global shifts in digital acceleration, which resulted in the Kingdom’s rise to be in the ranks of digitally advanced countries.

It grabbed 15 global achievements in digital transformation over the past year, including ranking first in 4 achievements worldwide, according to annual National Digital Transformation Report for the year 2020.

GEA, in affirmation of its contribution to supporting digital transformation in the Kingdom, recently obtained a quality certificate in the Information Technology Services Management System ISO/ IEC 20000 from the British Standards Institution BSI, accredited by the International Standards Organization (ISO), following its attainment of high efficiency in technical solutions that contribute to the development of the entertainment sector in accordance with international standards. — SPA