Saudi Arabia launches 35% filming incentive

Saudi Arabia has launched a 35% cash rebate as a formal filming incentive in a bid to attract more international producers.

By Nick Goundry 11 May 2018

Saudi Arabia launches 35% filming incentive
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has launched a 35% cash rebate as a formal filming incentive in a bid to attract more international producers.

The country will also offer a 50% rebate on the cost of hiring Saudi film crew.

“We believe that the combination of the two makes probably the most attractive incentive programme in the world,” said Ahmad Al-Mazaid, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s General Cultural Authority, in comments to Screen at the Cannes Film Festival.

“It’s not only confined to film – it also extends to animation, to documentary [and] to scripted series. We’re open to multiple formats.”

Al-Mazaid added that Saudi Arabia recognises that the best way to develop an experienced national crew base was to get crews involved with major international projects shooting locally. This is the main reason behind the generous rebate on crew costs incurred by foreign filmmakers.

Saudi Arabia recently lifted a decades-long ban on cinemas. The country has also set up a national film council and launched Nebras Films as Saudi Arabia’s first full-service production studio.

See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in Saudi Arabia.

Image: FreeImages.com/Asif Akbar

“We believe that the combination of the two makes probably the most attractive incentive programme in the world,” said Ahmad Al-Mazaid, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s General Cultural Authority, in comments to Screen at the Cannes Film Festival.

“It’s not only confined to film – it also extends to animation, to documentary [and] to scripted series. We’re open to multiple formats.”

Al-Mazaid added that Saudi Arabia recognises that the best way to develop an experienced national crew base was to get crews involved with major international projects shooting locally. This is the main reason behind the generous rebate on crew costs incurred by foreign filmmakers.

Saudi Arabia recently lifted a decades-long ban on cinemas. The country has also set up a national film council and launched Nebras Films as Saudi Arabia’s first full-service production studio.

See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in Saudi Arabia.

Image: FreeImages.com/Asif Akbar

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