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The Saudi Film Commission has partnered with the MBC Group to nurture local talent and create new employment opportunities.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two entities have signed a memorandum of understanding to train and employ Saudi talent in TV shows and films MBC will produce while supporting production shoots in the country.

Besides facilitating the procedures for obtaining licenses and necessary permits, it also aims to promote collaborative ventures within the Saudi film and series production scenes and amplify the kingdom’s global creative footprint.

Last week, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and MBC Group signed an agreement to launch and operate a cultural TV channel to celebrate local culture by airing various programs around the clock. Viewers can expect extensive coverage of cultural events in the kingdom, documentaries based on biographies of notable Saudi personalities, international plays, and an archive of Saudi Cultural works.

The kingdom has been promoting its film industry in recent years with a number of partnerships and funds to attract key international players.

At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in May, Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Development Fund unveiled two film funds worth $180 million to grow the local industry and attract international industry players.

Last year in Cannes, the country introduced its tax rebate that offers up to 40% of spend in cash back for film productions that recruit Saudi crew and talent while also promoting the cultural and geographical landscape of the country.

Films such as Gerard Butler’s Kandahar and Tom Holland’s Cherry have been shot in AlUla, while Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming project Dunki and Rupert Wyatt’s Desert Warrior were filmed in NEOM.