39 million riyals to finance Saudi cinema and television productions

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With funding exceeding 39 million riyals, the Cultural Fund is expanding the scope of its support for local film and television production, through an agreement with the Rotana Media Group that includes the production of Saudi films and series, amid expectations that the contribution of these works will exceed 72 million riyals to the gross domestic product, in addition to creating 68 job opportunities.

The works covered by the agreement cover a number of dramatic styles, including social comedy, drama and action, with the participation of a group of prominent Saudi actors, which enhances the presence of national talent and supports the growth of the film and television production chain in the Kingdom.

The projects also include a contribution from the private sector exceeding 12 million riyals, an indication of the growing role of private investment in financing local content and expanding the base of cultural production.

The CEO of the Cultural Fund, Majid bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Hogail, said that the Fund uses cultural financing to stimulate the growth of the sector and enhance its sustainability, by supporting the value chain, enhancing local content, stimulating private sector participation, and creating broader opportunities for cultural facilities and projects.

He added that the financing agreement with Rotana Media Group comes as an extension of this role, contributing to the growth of the film sector and enhancing its economic and cultural impact, in order to achieve the goals of the National Strategy for Culture and Saudi Vision 2030.

For his part, CEO of Rotana Media Group, Mufid Al-Nuwaisir, explained that the agreement comes within the group’s strategy to support the Saudi cultural industry, especially the film and series industry, noting that it represents part of a growing portfolio of investments and partnerships with multiple parties in the content industry sector.

He stated that Rotana Media seeks to continue its role as a gateway to partnership in content creation, expressing his thanks to the management of the Cultural Fund, and his aspiration that the agreement will be the first of a series of joint projects between the two sides.

The agreement comes at a time when the Saudi film sector continues to record growth in revenues and the presence of local productions. Box office revenues in the Kingdom exceeded 920 million riyals during the year 2025, an increase of approximately 9% over the year 2024, according to reports from the Film Commission.

Saudi films recorded about 13% of total box office revenues, amounting to more than 122 million riyals, through 11 Saudi films shown during the year, out of 538 films.

These indicators reflect the expansion of the local cinema market and the growing opportunities for Saudi production, while the Cultural Fund aims, through financial and enabling solutions, to support cultural projects and facilities, attract more private sector investments, and enhance the sustainability of the growth of the cultural economy in the Kingdom.