SAUDI ARABIA
of the best to the KSA to teach them , we are seeing them reach a level of expertise much sooner than a lot of countries have managed .”
Present and correct Since it was launched in London in 1997 by a team including CEO Simon Pizey , Done + Dusted has produced a huge number of live events and TV shows ranging from a Robbie Williams concert for 375,000 to the Opening Ceremony for the London Olympics .
For many years the vast majority of Done + Dusted ’ s work was in the UK and US , but Pizey says that KSA has quickly become a core focus : “ We have been in America for a decade , that has been the powerhouse within Done + Dusted , but in recent years Saudi has become our biggest division by numbers .”
The company has been working in KSA for four years , and among its many projects there include this year ’ s Saudi Esports World Cup Closing Ceremony , Ring of Fire Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk pre-fight entertainment along with the Joy Awards ; a starstudded ceremony in Riyadh that runs for four hours .
“ The Joy Awards is the number one show in the region for MBC , it features an enormous amount of international talent and attracts a huge number of views on socials ,” says Pizey . “ In Saudi , a few years ago there wasn ’ t a cinema , now they host this unbelievably glossy award show where very glamorous people dress as if they are going to The Oscars .
“ In terms of production values , their desire every year is to do it bigger and better . To be delivering for a client who ’ s appreciative of what we do , and for it to be a huge success , is really satisfying .”
Pizey says that while it is very rewarding working in KSA it is not without its challenges . “ We all went into this business to do something that ’ s interesting , and working in Saudi may not be simple but it is certainly very interesting . If you simply try to impose
The Saudi Events Show launched in 2019
Amar Daginawala
“ WORKING IN SAUDI MAY NOT BE SIMPLE BUT IT IS CERTAINLY VERY INTERESTING .”
the British or American way of doing production out here , you ’ re on a losing path ; there must be flexibility and an appreciation of different cultural elements .”
Done + Dusted is going through the final stages of opening an office in KSA and Pizey encourages suppliers to follow
Simon Pizey
suit : “ An awful lot of our suppliers are setting up Saudi companies and we ’ re delighted if they do because working with a Saudi-based company makes life easier .
“ It only really makes sense when you are employing other Saudi companies . If you ’ re still bringing in lots of equipment and people from the UK , you ’ re having to pay tax to bring them in . It is not an uncomplicated procedure to get a Saudi registered office , company registration and VAT number , but it ’ s worth it .”
Well covered Another UK-based company with years of experience working in the KSA is Ginger Owl , providing accreditation
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