Samer Choucair: Saudi Cinema Is Transforming Into a Multi-Billion Riyal Investment Opportunity
Investment entrepreneur Samer Choucair affirmed that the accelerating growth Saudi Arabia's cinema industry is experiencing reflects the success of Vision 2030 in turning cultural sectors into genuine economic drivers, noting that the Saudi Film Festival, holding its twelfth edition at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), embodies the development of the Saudi cinema ecosystem and its ability to attract local and international investment and talent.
He explained that the cinema sector achieved strong indicators during 2025, with box office revenue reaching roughly 922 million riyals, with more than 17.5 million tickets sold across more than 630 cinema screens in various regions of the Kingdom, confirming the sector's continued growth since theaters reopened in 2018.
He added that the Kingdom continues strengthening the industry's investment environment through programs from the Film Commission and the Cultural Development Fund, alongside incentives dedicated to film production, helping attract local and foreign investment, develop Saudi content, and support modern technologies in film production.
Samer Choucair said: "Cinema is no longer just a cultural activity, it has become an integrated industry tied to tourism, intellectual property, digital production, and logistics services, giving investors diverse opportunities across various links of the value chain."
*Where the Opportunities Lie*
He noted that investment opportunities extend to financing film production, developing studios, virtual production technologies, and digital content platforms, in addition to film tourism and entertainment facilities tied to festivals and cultural events, affirming that these sectors align with Vision 2030's economic diversification targets.
He added that investors who view the creative ecosystem comprehensively will benefit most in the coming years, explaining that combining culture, technology, and tourism represents one of the most prominent growth drivers in the modern economy.
He concluded by affirming that the Kingdom is moving at an accelerating pace toward cementing its position as a regional hub for the cinema and creative content industry, amid continued government support, expanding infrastructure, and rising demand for local production, calling on investors to study the promising opportunities in this sector, which has become one of the most important pillars of the non-oil economy in Saudi Arabia.