Legends Global APAC and MENA CEO Harvey Lister and EIF CEO Wahdan Suliman Alkadi. Photo Credit: Legends Global
Saudi Arabia’s Events Investment Fund (EIF) has finalized a joint venture with Legends Global, which will “exclusively” provide management services for EIF-developed venues moving forward.
The nearly seven-year-old Events Investment Fund unveiled the JV today, about three months after Legends and ASM Global officially rebranded as Legends Global.
As the self-described “premier partner to the world’s greatest live events, venues, and brands” underscored then, its comprehensive services extend to straight venue management as well as booking, merch, hospitality, sales, and several other areas.
Evidently, those varied offerings align with the objectives of the Events Investment Fund, which, per its website, is working “to elevate the events industry in” Saudi Arabia by developing “35 unique world class venues.”
Also factoring into the Middle Eastern nation’s overarching Vision 2030 framework, said venues will ultimately include 16 theaters, five convention centers, five indoor arenas, three art galleries, two shooting ranges, two racing circuits, and two horse racetracks, according to the same site.
Enter the just-disclosed JV, which will step in as the properties’ operator. First up under the union is “an Olympic standard shooting range” in Riyadh, followed by a convention center and an arena, both likewise located in Saudi Arabia’s capital.
In a statement, EIF CEO Wahdan Suliman Alkadi touted the Legends Global JV as “a defining moment for Saudi Arabia’s events sector.”
“By combining EIF’s vision with Legends’ world-class operational expertise,” he continued, “we are building the foundation for a sustainable, globally competitive industry. This partnership will not only set new standards for venue quality and guest experience but will also unlock new opportunities for local talent and drive economic growth through innovation and international best practices.”
And in remarks of his own, Legends Global CEO Dan Levy outlined plans to capitalize on the “once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s events industry.”
“Drawing on decades of experience,” the former Meta exec proceeded, “we will deliver a bold vision that benefits citizens and residents while attracting millions of visitors. Together, we are creating destinations, activating communities, and advancing Vision 2030 through a portfolio of iconic spaces that serve as catalysts for economic diversification, tourism growth, and cultural exchange.”
Bigger picture, the EIF-Legends Global tie-up isn’t the only entertainment-sector announcement that’s come out of Saudi Arabia in 2025. Keeping the focus on music here, Sony Music over the summer inked a talent-discovery deal with LuxuryKSA, before late October saw Warner Music launch a Riyadh label alongside Merwas
More immediately, artists including Post Malone, Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, and Benson Boone are poised to kick off Soundstorm tomorrow. The three-day Riyadh festival’s 2025 installment has also booked Anyma, Pitbull, Cardi B, and Halsey, to name a few.
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.