JEDDAH: The Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) has announced an official probe into an event which took place in the coastal city of Jeddah.
The investigation was launched after social media videos of the event sparked controversy and raised questions over the nature of the event and the venue. Many social media users, and some regional media outlets, have labeled the event as an opening of a famous nightclub; albeit always insisting that it was not going to serve alcohol.
In a statement posted on its Twitter account, the Saudi government body announced that: “According to information provided to the GEA, the event (Project X) is in violation of the legal procedures and regulations in force, and has not been authorised by the body," the statement said.
GEA had "originally issued a licence for another event", the statement said. "Its contractor then took advantage of an extension of that licence to commit these serious and unacceptable violations."