Saudi Arabia launches SAR500,000 AI incentive for cultural businesses

Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Development Fund (CDF) has launched a new incentive program to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across the kingdom’s cultural sector, offering eligible businesses financial support of up to SAR 500,000 ($133,000).

The “AI Incentives for Cultural Projects” initiative was launched in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program, and in collaboration with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

The initiative is the first track under Nama’s Incentives, a program designed to support cultural projects in priority areas aligned with Saudi Arabia’s national development goals.

Targeting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the program will support businesses seeking to develop or integrate AI technologies into cultural projects.

Funding will target several areas across the cultural value chain, including creativity and production, heritage preservation, content and knowledge development, cultural experiences, project management and operations, and governance and intellectual property.

The initiative comes as Saudi Arabia looks to expand the use of advanced technologies across its cultural and creative industries as part of its broader economic diversification agenda under Vision 2030.

It also builds on an agreement between the Ministry of Culture, CDF and SDAIA aimed at accelerating technology adoption across the sector, improving operational efficiency and competitiveness, and supporting the development of new cultural products and services.

“The launch of the AI Incentives for Cultural Projects track reflects our strategic commitment to enabling the cultural sector to harness advanced technologies as a driver of innovation and growth,” said Majed bin Abdulmohsen Al-Hugail, CEO of CDF.

He added that integrating AI into cultural projects could create new products, services and experiences while opening opportunities for investment and entrepreneurship and increasing the sector’s contribution to the creative economy.

Eligible organizations developing technology solutions or AI-powered cultural products, services and experiences can apply for the program through CDF. Applications are open until September 29, 2026.

The initiative is part of CDF’s broader efforts to support sustainable growth in Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector and to increase its contribution to the creative economy, in line with the National Culture Strategy and Vision 2030.