The Red Sea Souk, the industry market of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival, celebrated its most successful year yet, doubling its exhibitor count and drawing international film heavyweights. Held in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district, the 2024 edition hosted 142 exhibitors from 32 countries and welcomed 1,730 delegates, marking a dramatic leap from its inaugural 2021 edition, which featured just 19 exhibitors.

The market’s growing appeal is fueled by Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding $1 billion box office, a 40% film production rebate, and rising interest in local talent and new studio developments in AlUla and Neom.

Despite moving from the luxury Ritz-Carlton to the more vibrant but less climate-controlled Al-Balad venue, the market enjoyed a lively atmosphere. Its success reflects the country’s accelerating ambitions to become a major global player in film production, just seven years after lifting its decades-long cinema ban.

Running from December 7–11, the Red Sea Souk’s fourth edition confirmed Saudi Arabia’s increasing influence on the global entertainment landscape.