Comic Con set to make Saudi Arabia debut

Saudi Comic Con [SCC] will bring Manga art, comics, pop art installations, video games, cosplay and much more for visitors to enjoy and get involved in, organisers said in a statement.

"With the great demand inside the country and tens of thousands of Saudis travelling abroad to attend such events, we hope Saudi Comic Con to be a tremendous success, leaving a foot print in the entertainment industry," said Obada Awad, executive director of the event's hosts, Time Entertainment.

The event also has the backing of the conservative kingdom's General Entertainment Authority, which ensures the sustainability of the country's entertainment industry.

Comic Con began as a one-day convention in the US city of San Diego in 1970, with the purpose of bringing together comic enthusiasts to share and appreciate various aspects of the comic book industry. Today, similar conventions are held in many cities around with world, with the annual Comic Con International in San Diego attracting as many as 130,000 visitors.

Saudi Comic Con's organisers hope to emulate this success, now that comic fans in from around the country now have their own convention.