Saudi cinema market sells 90m tickets as box office surges to $1.33bn

Abdullah Al-Qahtani, CEO of the Saudi Film Commission, said the event was conceived to reflect the transformational growth of the Saudi film industry and provide a platform to unite filmmakers, decision-makers, legislative bodies, and training entities to tackle challenges and explore new opportunities.

Al-Qahtani noted that the market had grown from no cinemas in 2018 to one of the fastest-expanding entertainment industries in the region.

Saudi cinema box office

Over the past five years, annual ticket sales climbed from around six million in 2020 to 17m by the end of 2024, while revenues rose by 90 per cent, increasing from SR445m ($118.7m) to SR845m ($225.3m).

Saudi films have played an increasingly vital role in this expansion. Their total sales surpassed SR120m ($32m) — a substantial leap from SR13m ($3.47m) in 2020.

This growth underscores investor confidence in the Saudi market, driven by Vision 2030 and the Film Commission’s efforts to connect investors with local filmmakers.

This year’s edition of Saudi Film Confex, held under the theme “A Gathering That Transforms the Scene,” was the largest and most comprehensive to date.

It featured 135 exhibitors from 35 countries, more than 60 expert speakers across the value chain, and 50 interactive workshops covering key industry topics.

Box office

The event tackled a wide range of pressing issues, including intellectual property rights, artificial intelligence, film distribution, production financing, and insurance — all aimed at advancing the Kingdom’s fast-growing screen sector.

Al-Qahtani said the third edition of the confex confirms the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Middle East’s film industry, reflecting the country’s growing influence as a hub for regional and international productions.