In a village located in Saudi Arabia’s northwestern Tabuk region, Omar, 14, looked perfectly ready for his important role, along with stars featuring in an international movie that was filmed near his hometown.
The young man, who had never tried acting or attended any kind of filming events, finally found his passion when he accidentally caught the attention of the film director, to soon discover his talent and work beside global stars.
The producers found in the Saudi region of Tabuk and Neom the perfect location for their movie, with its rich geographical, natural, and cultural diversity. The project not only opened the way for 650 Saudi men and women to participate as additional actors but also allowed dozens of Saudi technicians and artists to go through the experience and benefit from international expertise. The Saudis constituted more than 20% of the permanent production staff, while the film contributed to the economic market by engaging more than 90 Saudi companies and 80 permanent trainees. Also, 80,000 nights were booked in hotel rooms in Tabuk and other regions.
All of this is just for a single movie. However, prominent producers are working on the production of several international films in Jeddah, Neom, AlUla, Riyadh, and several regions in the Kingdom for the near future, which highlights huge and promising opportunities in a country that offers hundreds of amazing locations, talented and passionate human capabilities, a hospitable culture, people fond of cinema, and a unique and rich natural and cultural diversity.
In another Hollywood movie, currently filmed in around 24 locations between AlUla and Jeddah, more than 100 Saudi men and women found the opportunity to participate as additional actors, while Saudis represent 10 percent of the permanent production crew. A Saudi company, along with a British firm registered in Saudi Arabia, had joined the project, which features more than four international stars, who resided in the Kingdom for several months and attended many important events.
The two projects alone saw more than 1,000 auditions, unveiling Saudi talents with a promising future in the industry.
In fact, we have rediscovered all of our richness, characteristics, and strengths thanks to the Crown Prince’s huge renaissance and development vision. A vision that revives our features, consolidates our culture and national identity and places our country in a premium international rank.
Returning to the intense activity of production teams, actors, and creators in various regions in Saudi Arabia, the technical impact on the sector’s industry appears evident as soon as work begins on filming international films in our country.
But several other sectors are positively impacted by such activity, including service providers in the filming and photography industry, talent discovery, free jobs, tourism and hotels, heritage and modern tourist sites, restaurants, events and entertainment seasons, legal advice, financial and banking services, in addition to the logistical services such as shipping and transportation, and all the revenues generated inside the Kingdom across the sectors during the filming and production process.
Cinematically, many directors selected Saudi locations due to the Kingdom’s diversity, its various natural, cultural and urban options, and the rich experiences in these stunning places. If you head north of the country, you will be fascinated by Al-Hegra in AlUla, the Red Sands Dunes, the Nazar Fort and Al-Shareef Market in Khaybar, the Georgios G. shipwreck in crystal-clear waters off Haql beach, Wadi Al-Disah in Tabuk, Wadi Tayyib Al-Ism in Magna, the Yellow Sands Mountains in Jeddah, and the Marid Castle and other historical monuments in Al-Jouf.
When you turn east, you will praise the beauty of Al-Ahsa Oasis, the largest palm-tree oasis in the world, immerse in the beauty of Qaisariah Traditional Souq in Al-Hofuf, Al-Koot Heritage Hotel in Ogair Ancient Port, the white sands of the eastern coast, and the majestic dunes of Al-Dahna and the Empty Quarter, the largest continuous area of sandy desert in the world.
In the West, you will be amazed by the mesmerizing coasts of the Red Sea, and the historical towns of Jeddah, Duba, Al-Wajh, and Yanbu.
Those in search of geographical diversity will rush to the South, to Wadi Lajab in Jizan and its wonderful mountainous areas - which are known for some of the finest coffee beans in the world.
The magnificent mountains of Asir attract you with their villages and authentic culture, and the beautiful islands neighboring the mighty peaks.
Regions in the center of the Kingdom also offer an unparalleled visual experience in the plateaus of Qiddiyah, Jabal Al-Hamidh. The golden desert sands will leave you in wonder, as will the abundance of spaces and monuments in its cities and villages, and the vibes of the culture and architecture. All these natural elements will inevitably draw the interest of moviemakers worldwide.
In addition to Saudi Arabia’s attractive features, the Saudi Film Authority announced last December its intention to launch a local and international incentive package to attract Saudi and international film productions to the Kingdom, with rebates expected to reach 40%.
The great lift of the Kingdom’s film industry indeed began with the unprecedented support from the leader of our country’s future vision, the Crown Prince, starting with deliberate and accurate steps that followed meticulous research of the Saudi market and local capabilities, the return of cinemas to the country after a decades-long ban, and the launch of film festivals and nation-wide competitions with huge prizes to encourage filmmakers and support their production. Moreover, the establishment of a dedicated government commission and the adoption of a tailored strategy contributed to efforts aimed at enriching the experience and achieving more progress.
I would also like to point to the outcome of extensive studies conducted by local and international specialists on the Saudi market and capacity building, which revealed a great demand that exceeds supply in many cultural sectors. The film sector is certainly one of those industries that seemed thirsty for specialists and qualified human capabilities, in a country full of talents and passionate people who are waiting to seize the opportunity.
We have a bright future ahead of us. With the support of our leadership, the efficacy, and the passion of our people, we can achieve the unachievable!
