Cinema’s great revival in the Middle East
Cinema is going through one of the greatest cultural revivals ever in the Gulf major economic powers, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar. Since the late 2010’s, these countries have been massively investing in film production all around the world, often supporting very eclectic projects.
The last decade marked a big shift compared to the past decades, when strict conservative governance in the region didn’t allow for cinema to thrive. Saudi Arabia even banned cinema for 35 years, from 1983 to 2018. In the 80’s, the entire economy of the region was centered on oil production, leaving no place for other kinds of exchange with the rest of the world, and no means for local cinema lovers to create.
But as the years went by, mentalities changed, streaming platforms and social media appeared, and the communications between people from every corner of the planet became easy. Simultaneously, cinema became a seriously considered opportunity of investment. Since money wasn't an issue, investing in production allowed these countries to enter the film industry in style and offered the opportunity to nurture key relationships and increase their technical know-how. This strategy worked quite well as within a few years Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar managed to get a spot on the red carpets of the most prestigious film festivals of the world.
But more than investing in foreign projects, the Gulf started to create opportunities for local production to grow. In 2018, Saudi Arabia opened its first movie theater in 35 years, and quickly built dozens of others. The country is already in the top 10 worldwide for the number of premium cinema screens.
Going straight to the best quality service and delivering it with very few limitations has become a distinctive trait of the countries of that region. But such an effort could have been compromised by Covid, because of the many restrictions leading to the closure of public spaces. Nevertheless, the investments never stopped in the Gulf, and the theaters were able to reopen as soon as the big crisis was over. The 2021 and 2022 box office figures were not exactly as high as before the crisis, but they were doing much better than any other region of the planet.
In December 2021, the country organized the first edition of the Red Sea Film Festival, a new international film festival, while announcing new funding dedicated to the local cinema. This year, “Norah” is the first original Saudi film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
Overall the results are here and the box office is exploding in the region more than anywhere else, making the Gulf region the ”fastest-growing cinema industry globally over the last four years”, according to the META Cinema Forum.
Demonstrating a wider process of opening to the world
Rediscovering cinema is only part of a much bigger plan for the Gulf, like it is the case in Qatar. The country might be quieter than Saudi Arabia on the red carpets, but it has followed the same strategy, and was actually in advance when the Doha Film Institute was created in 2010 to start the reboot of cinema.
Qatar is actually looking at the bigger picture, and investing in much more than cinema. Programs like Years Of Culture, an initiative aimed at promoting Qatari culture around the world through cultural events such as exhibitions, concerts and artistic residencies, currently at its 10th edition, are a clear sign that Qatar has become more and more invested in cultivating diplomatic ties though cultural expressions.. Creating cultural bonds with new partners is the perfect occasion to celebrate the national heritage while securing strong international relations.
Qatar and other Gulf countries are betting on culture to diversify their diplomatic and economic resources while remaining close to their core values. Favoring the development of new economic pillars is also a perfect occasion for them to reveal a new open minded image to the public and attract more tourists. So the strategic expansion of cinema produced in the Gulf is part of a larger expansion of cultural initiatives, opening new sources of investments in these countries.
Having great ambition for the next decades
The Gulf countries have embarked on a journey to transform their cultural landscapes. By investing in the arts and leveraging the power of cinema, they are not only enriching their own cultural fabric but also positioning themselves as key players in the global cultural arena. Offering the best experience for the customer, and already ranking good worldwide with its quality of service, the Gulf intends to become the next cultural center of the world, within decades only.
Vision 2030 is a large plan launched in Saudi Arabia in 2016 by Mohammed Ben Salmane to deeply transform the country’s economic model. Saudi Arabia is starting to turn into a more liberal and progressive country, with new diversified sources of revenues. Investing into culture, sport, renewable energy, tech industry, and agriculture amongst others, Saudi clearly aims at becoming a global economic and cultural hub during the next decade. In the longer term, projects like Neom, a giant urban plan to construct futuristic cities in the middle of the desert, show the will of the country to create a new societal model based on connectivity, liberalism and flexibility.
The cinematic revival in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, marks a significant cultural and economic transformation in the region. With substantial investments in film production and the creation of cinema facilities, these countries are not only revitalizing their local film industries but also positioning themselves as prominent players on the global cultural stage. Initiatives like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and Qatar's cultural programs highlight a broader strategy to diversify economies and foster international cultural exchange.
The coming decades promise further growth and innovation, heralding a new era for cinema and cultural exchange in the Middle East.
