Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission has published the second edition of its Saudi Film Industry Yearbook, documenting the sector’s performance in 2025 and highlighting substantial growth in local film revenues, production activity, infrastructure development and talent investment.
The report tracks the industry’s progress through more than 100 indicators covering the entire film value chain, including talent development, production infrastructure, investment incentives, funding, film preservation and box office performance. It is designed to provide filmmakers, investors, researchers and other industry stakeholders with a comprehensive reference for assessing the market.
Abdullah Al-Qahtani, CEO of the Saudi Film Commission, said the publication reflects the Commission’s commitment to transparency and improving access to industry data. He described the yearbook as an important foundation for the sector’s continued growth and sustainability, adding that the latest indicators demonstrate that Saudi Arabia’s film industry has moved beyond its establishment phase and entered a period of sustained development.
One of the report’s key findings is the more than doubling of revenue generated by Saudi films, which increased from approximately US$15.04 million in 2024 to US$32.64 million in 2025. Local productions also increased their share of the domestic box office from 7 per cent to more than 13 per cent, reflecting their growing presence in the Kingdom’s cinema market.
The wider Saudi cinema market generated approximately US$245.13 million in box office revenue during 2025, with 18.77 million tickets sold. The Kingdom maintained its position as the largest cinema market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Production investment and infrastructure expansion also featured prominently in the report. Production spending supported through government incentives and funding programmes reached approximately US$77.59 million across 52 projects during 2025, highlighting continued efforts to strengthen domestic production capabilities.
The number of production companies operating in Saudi Arabia increased from 65 in 2024 to 179 in 2025. Available studio space across the Kingdom also expanded to approximately 118,000 square metres, providing additional infrastructure for film and television production.
Talent development and preservation initiatives recorded further progress. More than 6,800 trainees participated in film industry training programmes during the year, while the National Film Archive expanded its collection to more than 83,000 preserved items.
International cooperation remained another priority for the Commission. During 2025, it participated in 18 international film festivals and industry events and signed a strategic partnership with the Korean Film Council to strengthen collaboration between the two countries’ film industries.
Saudi productions also secured more than 17 awards at local and international film festivals, with 12 recognitions going to films supported through the Commission’s incentive programme.
Among the notable achievements was Hijra, directed by Shahad Ameen, which received five awards, including the NETPAC Award at the Venice International Film Festival. The production also represented Saudi Arabia in the 2026 Academy Awards race.
Through the publication, the Saudi Film Commission aims to provide greater visibility into the Kingdom’s evolving film market, supporting investment decisions, production planning and the development of local creative talent.
The initiative forms part of Saudi Vision 2030’s broader ambition to establish the Kingdom as a regional and international centre for film production and the creative industries, while strengthening its position within the global entertainment market.
