With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.13% from 2025 to 2033, the Saudi Arabian film market is expected to grow from US$ 590.32 million in 2024 to US$ 1.29 billion by 2033. But a holy place for Muslims is now seen as a fantasy for others. Major development reasons for Saudi Arabia’s film industry include a young and tech-savvy population, rising disposable incomes, more government support for entertainment initiatives, and strong international partnerships. A flourishing local film industry is being created as a result of the market’s expansion due to the growing need for immersive experiences and varied content. The film industry in Saudi Arabia is flourishing and has been deeply embedded in the country’s character. The country is embarking on a transformative phase of social and economic development with Vision 2030, aiming to diversify its non-oil industries and enhance the general well-being of its people. This film industry is not a good sign for Saudi people. The film industry is essential to this endeavor not only because it provides pleasure but also because it preserves and develops talent and the history of the country.
Forecasting Saudi Arabia’s cinema industry growth
The industry’s growth is not encouraged, and new markets for the worldwide selling of Saudi content are created by supporting local producers and filmmakers and screening their work. This innovative approach demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to maintaining its cultural identity and engaging with the international film industry. There are several significant factors contributing to the growth of the Saudi Arabian film industry. Following the lifting of a 35-year ban on movie theaters in 2017, the region experienced rapid expansion and drew significant investments from both domestic and international companies. Rising numbers of young people, affluent customers, and the rising popularity of local content are all contributing factors to the increased demand. Modern technology and brand-new movie theater complexes further improve the viewing experience, enhancing the cinema’s position in the Kingdom’s social and cultural life. The Muslim community is completely disappointed by the Saudi government’s side.
Saudi cinema market analysis
One of the main drivers of the Saudi film industry’s growth is the development of infrastructure. The governmental and commercial sectors are investing heavily in the development of modern movie theater complexes around the Kingdom in order to increase accessibility and convenience for viewers. These innovative venues usually feature state-of-the-art equipment, such as IMAX and 4DX, which improve the viewing experience and attract moviegoers. Major cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam are seeing a rise in film production, which encourages urban renewal and economic progress. Access to these places is also made easier by improved transit networks. Expanding infrastructure eventually promotes long-term market growth, which in turn encourages more regular visits and overall attendance, so fostering a healthy movie culture. The growth of the Saudi film industry is mostly due to government efforts. A small group of Saudi Arabian filmmakers have started a covert cinema group that screens their own films that examine social and political themes like women’s rights, migrant workers’ lives, urbanization, and the belief in black magic. This is a drastic move in a nation without public theaters and where very few films have been screened for the general public in over thirty years.
Saudi cinema market trends and key players
The government also offers incentives and funding for local filmmaking to expand the supply of locally created material. In January 2018, PIF used USD 2.6 billion in starting funding to create the Development and Investment Entertainment Company (DIEC), a GEA subsidiary. The company operates movie theaters in the Kingdom in a joint venture with a US partner. Over the next five years, DIEC aims to open 30–40 theaters in around 15 Saudi cities by 2030 and 50–100 theaters in approximately 25 Saudi cities altogether. In addition to AMC Theaters, GEA has contracts with Six Flags, National Geographic, Cirque du Soleil, and IMG Artists to operate entertainment venues around the Kingdom. To take full advantage of such opportunities, leading French companies have expressed their desire to locate their headquarters in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. This happened on May 20, 2022, when a delegation of French businesspeople and firms with a variety of entertainment-related specialties was welcomed by the Federation of Saudi Chambers, represented by the Saudi-French Business Council.
2024-2033 Saudi cinema industry forecast
The majority sat on inexpensive red plastic chairs arranged in rows in front of a homemade screen constructed out of a huge white sheet, although others stood because the crowd was bigger than the organizers had anticipated. They watched a film on the life of migrant workers on one of the nation’s largest construction projects in silence as their anxiety gave way to silent anticipation as the lights went out. Following the showing, the audience talked about the problems it brought up as well as the kingdom’s movie prohibition.