MFRadio.de | International Editorial Team | October 12, 2025 

This year's Riyadh Season starts in Saudi Arabia – a gigantic cultural and entertainment festival that is causing a stir worldwide. With a budget of around 2.4 billion pounds, the kingdom is setting new standards in terms of show, sport and spectacle.
For the first time, the legendary WWE Royal Rumble will take place outside of North America – in the middle of Riyadh. And also a premiere: a professional darts league in the desert state, accompanied by tennis, snooker and music events at an international level. 

But behind the colourful lights there is much more than entertainment. With the Riyadh Season, Saudi Arabia is pursuing a clear goal: image change through soft power. The country wants to present itself to the world as a modern, open center for culture, tourism and technology – a huge step in the framework of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Vision 2030" strategy. 

Critics, however, also see the mega-event as an attempt to divert international attention from human rights issues and domestic political tensions. Nevertheless, the response is great: celebrities from the worlds of sports, film and music travel – and millions of viewers worldwide follow the opening. 
Conclusion MFRadio:
Saudi Arabia wants to reinvent itself – no longer just as an oil nation, but as a global center for entertainment and culture. Whether this succeeds depends on whether the change is real – or just a well-staged spectacle.
 



Source: REUTERS
Author: MF editorial team