Restaurants and cafes in Saudi Arabia will be able to apply for entertainment licenses, the new head of the General Entertainment Authority announced on Tuesday.
In his first press conference since he was appointed to the role, Turki Al-Sheikh unveiled a number of initiatives and projects.
He said coffee shops and restaurants will be issued permits to host live musical performances and stand up comedy.
Al-Sheikh also announced a SR1 million prize for participants in the Hijra Journey contest.
The contest, Al-Sheikh said, requires participants from around the Muslim world to walk the steps between Makkah and Madinah in a reenactment of Prophet Muhammad’s journey of migration.