JEDDAH: The entertainment industry and the creative economy play key roles in the reforms that aim to transform the Saudi economy and reduce its reliance on oil and gas revenues.
Along with efforts to promote and encourage entrepreneurship, this has created great opportunities in the digital field, and encouraged young Saudis to work to make their ambitious dreams reality.
One such entrepreneur is 27-year-old Ahmed Bakhashwin, the founder of Otagu, an online community for fans of video games, animation, movies and TV shows, a group he feels has been unfairly treated and exploited by retailers. The platform aims to improve the marketplace by providing a space where enthusiasts, merchandisers and retailers can get together and deal directly with each other.
“Otagu is derived from the Japanese word ‘Otaku,’ which means a person who is obsessed with a particular thing; for example, an otaku of Marvel movies,” said Bakhashwin. “Otagu is also an acronym for ‘Online, TV, Animation and Gaming Universe.’”
The idea for Otagu grew from his dissatisfaction with the local video games market.
“The market for second-hand video games was made to trick and exploit customers,” he said. “Shops would buy used games for very low prices from their owners and then sell them at a much higher price.”
Bakhashwin said that he wanted to help consumers get a better deal by giving them more power.
“At first I wanted to take the shops out of the equation and allow people to sell their products directly to those who want them for a price they agree on,” he said. “However, the idea grew further and now we want to target the entertainment industry as a whole.”
One of Otagu’s main aims is to bring better organization to the Kingdom’s entertainment marketplace, including the second-hand video-game market, by providing a platform that connects sellers of gaming, animation, movie and TV merchandise with the collectors, fans and enthusiasts most interested in their wares.
Work began on Otagu a year ago and it is due to launch its website, otagu.com, in two weeks. A mobile app is coming soon, too.
Although Saudi Arabia only embraced and opened up to the global entertainment industry relatively recently, the potential value of the sector and its contribution to the local economy is immense.
“The market that we are targeting is bigger than ever, so it’s the perfect time for us to launch,” said Bakhashwin.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 national transformation program includes a target of increasing spending on cultural and entertainment activities inside the Kingdom from the current level of 2.9 percent of total domestic expenditure to 6 percent.
Bakhashwin aims to give fellow entrepreneurs in the Kingdom the chance to participate in this expanding market by helping small businesses grow and open their own online stores.
“Every business owner in any field related to our target audience can have an independent store page on our website,” he said. “We help small business and shops too.”
He added he has lofty ambitions for Otagu, which he believes has great potential to grow and become a major force in the region. He said his team has worked hard to create and develop the best platform to match their plans and ambitions.
“Our biggest challenge has been finding the right investor, so we could move ahead faster with the company’s plans,” he said. “Up until now all the funds have come from me, but with an investor we can move even more quickly to help our company realize the vision that we have for it.”
Startup of the Week: Otagu - Taking Saudi video game marketplace to the next level
Startup of the Week: Otagu - Taking Saudi video game marketplace to the next level
- Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 national transformation program includes a target of increasing spending on cultural and entertainment activities inside the Kingdom from the current level of 2.9 percent of total domestic expenditure to 6 percent
Saudi Arabia makes strides in Vision 2030, workplace safety
- Vice environment minister highlights Kingdom’s focus on human capital, sustainability at Riyadh conference
Riyadh: Vice Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour Al-Mushaiti has highlighted Saudi Arabia’s significant progress toward Vision 2030, with 93 percent of annual indicators met and 85 percent of initiatives either completed or on track.
Speaking at the Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference in Riyadh, he emphasized the environment sector’s commitment to sustainability and the prioritization of worker safety across all development projects.
Al-Mushaiti underscored the Kingdom’s focus on human capital, demonstrated by the establishment of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health and the adoption of international best practices.
He noted the water sector’s achievement of more than 190 million safe work hours and a sub-45-second emergency response time with zero serious incidents during large-scale project implementation, which he attributed to robust safety management systems.
The conference, held from May 4-6 under the theme “The Future of Occupational Safety and Health,” brings together senior officials, experts, and specialists from Saudi Arabia and around the world to explore future directions and challenges in global labor markets.
Al-Mushaiti also outlined environmental protection efforts, including a noise and light pollution monitoring program in major cities, citing potential productivity gains of more than 11 percent, according to the World Green Building Council.
He highlighted the success of the Saudi Green Initiative, which has led to the planting of more than 141 million trees, the rehabilitation of more than 313,000 hectares of degraded land, and the protection of more than 4 million hectares.
These environmental advances enhance worker safety and contribute to safer, more sustainable work environments, Al-Mushaiti said.
In agriculture, Al-Mushaiti affirmed the ministry’s adoption of Saudi Good Agricultural Practices standards, with 142 facilities accredited for safe practices, advanced pesticide control systems, and smart awareness platforms that have reduced pesticide residues to below 2 percent.
The three-day conference features scientific sessions, 60 workshops, 20 dialogue sessions, and the Global Occupational Safety and Health Hackathon, showcasing 30 innovative projects.
Thousands worldwide benefit from KSrelief medical programs
- On Saturday, the organization also concluded its volunteer open-heart surgery and catheterization project in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief completed medical programs in Tajikistan, Turkiye, and Tanzania, in line with the organization’s aim to support injured people worldwide.
The Saudi Noor Campaign, which will conclude on May 6, is tackling blindness in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The medical team examined 1,731 cases, assigned 198 prescription glasses, performed 60 operations and provided medication to 857 patients.
In Reyhanli district, Türkiye, KSrelief carried out a prosthetics and rehabilitation program.
With a team of 13 specialists, they fitted 36 individuals with prosthetics and 40 orthopedic splints.
On Saturday, the organization also concluded its volunteer open-heart surgery and catheterization project in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The team performed 133 open-heart catheterizations and 15 open-heart operations.
KSrelief continues humanitarian initiatives in Yemen and Syria
RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief continues to launch volunteer programs throughout the Arab world to address humanitarian crises and improve the health of Yemeni and Syrian people.
In Damascus, the team completed three volunteer initiatives that supported hundreds with disaster response, administrative training, and psychosocial support for women and children. The program ran from April 26 to May 3.
In Yemen, meanwhile, KSrelief completed the first phase of an outreach vaccination campaign in the Aden governorate in collaboration with Yemen’s Minister of Public Health and Population Qasem Buhaibeh.
On Friday, the organization launched vocational training courses in Wadi Hadhramaut, Yemen, to improve the livelihood of locals and boost economic development.
The project targeted 1,500 people and focused on home appliance maintenance, carpentry, vehicle repair, men’s tailoring, beekeeping, plumbing, photography, and electricity and energy.
Saudi fashion event highlights retail trends, youth culture, and digital innovation
- Speakers noted that the increase in entertainment activities such as concerts and dining in the Kingdom in recent years has led to higher demand for fashion products because people are looking for ways to express themselves
RIYADH: A Riyadh fashion seminar on Sunday brought together industry leaders and creatives to explore the future of Saudi Arabia’s fashion economy.
Hosted by Chalhoub Group at Lakum Art Space, the event featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, and displays by 10 emerging Saudi designers from The Fashion Lab Cohort 2.
The agenda focused on three main themes: the evolution of fashion retail in the Kingdom; the role of cultural identity in building brands; and the rising importance of digital fashion and collaboration.
An awards ceremony honored the standout talents of this year’s cohort: APOA, Awaken, Bucketbox, Mona Al-Shebil, Noble & Fresh, Nora Al-Shaikh, Rebirth, Samar Nasraldin, The Untitled Project and USCITA.
FASTFACT
Hosted by Chalhoub Group at Lakum Art Space, the event featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, and displays by 10 emerging Saudi designers from The Fashion Lab Cohort 2.
One discussion explored consumer behavior in Saudi Arabia, revealing that the local market continues to grow despite global slowdowns.
Speakers noted that the increase in entertainment activities such as concerts and dining in the Kingdom in recent years has led to higher demand for fashion products because people are looking for ways to express themselves.
Retail experiences — both physical and digital — were emphasized as key to engaging Saudi consumers.
Youth culture, streetwear and sports are shaping brand narratives, a panel heard. Speakers discussed how fashion is being used as a tool for cultural storytelling, with an emphasis on grassroots creativity and community building.
Another topic highlighted the power of collaboration between local and international brands. Panelists discussed the importance of long-term partnerships, manufacturing localization, and mentorship to bridge gaps in knowledge and infrastructure.
Speakers also addressed the future of digital fashion, including virtual design, retail innovation, and new marketing strategies targeting Gen Z.
Saudi Arabia’s growing role in shaping the regional and global fashion economy was a prominent theme of the discussions.
First Saudi-Maldives forum to tackle transparency, governance in tourism
- Discussions aim to support sustainable development, promote safe tourism environment
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia — in partnership with the Maldives — is organizing the tourism sector’s inaugural Saudi-Maldives International Forum on Integrity, which is set to take place in the Maldives from May 6 to 7.
The forum is jointly organized by Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, and the Maldives’ Anti-Corruption Commission, in cooperation with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
It will cover key topics such as enhancing transparency and governance in the tourism sector, combating corruption, and boosting international partnerships and expertise exchange among member states and regional and international organizations.
The discussions aim to support sustainable development and promote a trustworthy and safe tourism environment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The forum is expected to attract international participation from more than 40 countries and 10 regional and international organizations.
Attendees will include ministers, heads, and representatives of anti-corruption bodies from OIC member states, as well as key international organizations like the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Interpol, the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities, and the UN Development Programme. Local and international experts will also take part.
Organizing the forum reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global efforts promoting transparency and accountability in tourism, according to the SPA.
The event highlights Saudi Arabia’s recognition of tourism as a key driver of sustainable development, in line with Vision 2030. It aims to build a thriving tourism sector, diversify national income sources, and stimulate economic growth.
