Report: Saudi is the Egyptian Film Industry's Biggest Export Market

A recently published report by the Cairo Film Connection forum at the 46th Cairo International Film Festival reveals Saudi Arabia is the largest export market for the Egyptian film industry.

Although Egyptian films in Saudi Arabia rank only third in terms of market share (behind US and Indian films), they still generate substantially more revenue in the Kingdom than they do in Egypt. In 2024, the 33 Egyptian films released in Saudi Arabia generated over USD 53 million in revenue, which is more than double what all Egyptian films earned in their domestic market the same year (USD 23.5 million).

For nine out of the ten highest-grossing Egyptian film exports between 2021 and 2024, Saudi Arabia was the primary source of box office revenue. Egyptian films have historically enjoyed much popularity across the Arabic-speaking world, including in Saudi Arabia. Just under a third of the 65 films in Saudi Arabia's all-time box office are Egyptian.

For many blockbuster Egyptian films in recent years, however, the revenue earned abroad far exceeds that earned at home. "Welad Rizk 3" (2024), starring Ahmed Ezz and Asser Yassin and directed by Tarek Alarian, grossed USD 6.1 million in Egypt and USD 22.3 million abroad. Similarly, "Waafet Reggala" (2021) made USD 18.3 million in foreign markets while earning just USD 1.7 million domestically.

While Egypt's domestic film market continues to grow (with domestic box office revenues in Egyptian pounds doubling since 2019), the importance of film exports to Egypt's film industry has increased in recent years due to the significant devaluation of the Egyptian pound.