Why Saudi Arabia Wants Hollywood Now

Saudi Arabia is going on the offensive, aiming to position itself as a global magnet not only in sports but also in the film industry. At the Cannes Film Festival, the kingdom presented an incentive model designed to reimburse producers for up to 60 percent of the expenses incurred in the country. For the film industry, this could mark a real turning point.

Filming involves far more than cameras and actors. Behind every production are hotels, transportation, technical service companies, catering, and thousands of jobs. On top of that comes a powerful promotional effect, since filming locations often become popular travel destinations. Whoever attracts the big productions gains not only prestige and international attention, but also economic power.

Germany also supports films, but only up to a clear cap of 25 million euros. By comparison, the Saudi incentive looks like a massive lure: for a 100-million-dollar project, it offers a 60-million-dollar rebate – an offer that could pull producers away from other regions.

The push is also part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's broader strategy. Under the Vision 2030 program, Saudi Arabia aims to appear more modern, open, and internationally connected. The fact that cinemas were banned there for decades makes this shift all the more remarkable.

Saudi Arabia no longer wants to simply observe the global film market – it wants to actively help shape it. The competition for shoots, stars, and series is becoming tougher, more expensive, and more geopolitical. What used to be decided almost exclusively between Hollywood, London, Rome, or Berlin could in the future also be negotiated in Jeddah and Riyadh. Saudi Arabia does have one disadvantage, though: the heat.