Arab News, Saturday, May 13, 2023 | Shawwal 23, 1444
Saudis to receive event safety training under new deal with key Qatar World Cup firm
Saudi Arabia:
Thousands of Saudis are set to be trained
on event management and safety protocols by one of the firms that played a key
role in last year’s FIFA World Cup.
Qatar-based Stadium LLC has agreed a memorandum of
understanding with The Saudi Excellence Co. to provide the service at a new
academy.
The deal comes as the Kingdom looks to boost its
entertainment and live events sector as part of the Vision 2030 initiative to
diversify the economy and reduce its reliance on oil revenues.
Stadium LLC — a subsidiary of the UK firm Stadium
— provided training to some 8,500 operatives at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in
Qatar, helping to keep a cumulative 3.4 million spectators safe across eight
venues during the tournament.
David McAtamney, owner and founder of Stadium,
said: “This is a really exciting agreement which will help to play a key role in
propelling sport and expanding industry in Saudi Arabia – a country which has a
tremendous appetite for live events and is making significant waves in the world
of sport.
“Saudi Arabia has a population of more than 35
million and over two-thirds of those are under the age of 35, and growing the
security and events management industry in the country and creating jobs is key
to unlocking its sporting potential.”
The Saudi Excellence Co. is part of the Al-Ramez
International Group and is one of the leading security and defense companies in
the region, providing services to the Saudi government, led by Sheikh Abdullah
Zaid Al-Meleihi.
The partnership formed as a result of Stadium’s
key role in the World Cup where it provided safety training to thousands of
operatives in Qatar, ensuring they gained formal qualifications including a
Level 2 International Certificate in Spectator Safety, a Level 3 Certificate in
Spectator Safety Supervision, as well as a Level 4 Diploma in Spectator Safety
Management.
Reflecting on the deal, Al-Meleihi said: “As the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnesses an unprecedented expansion in supporting and
hosting local and international sporting events, The Saudi Excellence Company
intends to enhance security expertise in sports with our partner, Stadium LLC,
in order to stay on top of this trend and develop a safe environment for such
sporting events, as well as creating suitable and promising employment
opportunities for young talent and retired security professionals.”
The agreement originated through a UK government
trade mission to Saudi Arabia, and Business and Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston
said: “It is excellent news that Stadium has secured this deal with Saudi
Arabia, building on a trading relationship where total trade was worth £17.3
billion in 2022.”