Graham Bartholomew In 2018, Saudi Arabia removed its religious ban on cinema and revealed its intentions to transform itself from an oil-based economy into an entertainment powerhouse. The goal was to use the country’s wealth to not only invest in media companies, but to lure studios to the kingdom through a combination of tax incentives and state-of-the art facilities, while developing its own national film business. Eight years later, however, Saudi Arabia’s moviemaking ambitions have yet to materialize, stunted by regional turmoil and a failure to recognize what audiences want.
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