At a Glance
- Saudi Arabia leads growth as Vision 2030 unlocks billions for cinemas, gaming and live entertainment.
- UAE and Egypt anchor regional scale through tourism, production depth and high consumer spending.
- Youthful populations, smartphones and 5G accelerate streaming, gaming and on-demand entertainment adoption.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are rapidly emerging as global entertainment powerhouses, led by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.
Governments are investing billions, while private capital builds cinemas, concerts, gaming hubs, and immersive attractions.
High smartphone penetration, a young population, and expanding 5G networks fuel streaming, gaming, and on-demand consumption.
MENA’s cultural and economic transformation is making entertainment a major revenue driver rather than a soft-power accessory.
At the heart of this shift is Saudi Arabia, where Vision 2030 has unlocked over $60 billion for entertainment, culture, and sports, rapidly transforming a once-restricted market into the region’s growth engine.
The UAE follows closely, leveraging tourism, retail infrastructure, and private capital to build a globally competitive leisure ecosystem. Egypt, the Arab world’s cultural heavyweight, continues to monetize scale, language dominance, and production depth.
Across the region, high smartphone penetration, a youthful population, and accelerating 5G rollout are reshaping consumption patterns toward streaming, gaming, and on-demand experiences.
Shore Africa has profiled 10 of the biggest entertainment markets in the Middle East and North Africa
1. Saudi Arabia
The region’s largest and fastest-growing entertainment market. Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector is undergoing a major transformation driven by Vision 2030, with clear growth in both public and private investments. The market reached $2.65 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to $2.98 billion in 2026, reaching $5.36 billion by 2031. Entertainment activities in the Kingdom are concentrated in family entertainment centers and theme parks, which account for 36 percent of the market, alongside a strong cinema segment that generated SAR 845.6 million and 17.5 million tickets in 2024. Meanwhile, digital entertainment and mixed reality are the fastest-growing segments, posting 18.5 percent CAGR. Cultural and religious tourism in Mecca and Medina is also expanding, supported by educational and religious trips.
2. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
A mature, high-spend market anchored by tourism and retail. Dubai and Abu Dhabi dominate family entertainment, concerts, and immersive experiences, with strong private-sector participation and seamless integration into hospitality and aviation.
3. Egypt
MENA’s cultural powerhouse. Egypt’s entertainment strength lies in film, television, and music production, supported by scale, language reach, and a vast domestic audience, making it a cornerstone for Arabic-language content monetization.
4. Morocco
A rising North African hub for film production and festivals. Morocco benefits from international co-productions, scenic locations, and growing local consumption, positioning it as both a creator and consumer market.
5. Algeria
An underpenetrated but populous market. Algeria’s entertainment sector is constrained by regulation but supported by strong demand for music, cinema, and digital content, offering long-term upside as reforms progress.
6. Qatar
A high-income, event-driven market. Global showcases like the FIFA World Cup accelerated investment in live entertainment, sports, and cultural infrastructure, anchoring premium experiences despite a smaller population base.
7. Kuwait
A consumption-led entertainment market. High disposable income and mall-centric leisure fuel cinemas, family entertainment centers, and digital subscriptions, with private capital playing a dominant role.
8. Tunisia
An emerging creative economy. Tunisia punches above its weight in festivals, film, and music, offering low-cost production advantages and growing regional relevance despite infrastructure constraints.
9. Lebanon
A cultural tastemaker with regional influence. Despite economic headwinds, Lebanon remains central to Arabic music, nightlife, and creative talent exports, sustaining its soft-power footprint.
10. Jordan
A stable, niche market. Jordan leverages tourism, heritage sites, and film production incentives to attract international projects, while domestic demand supports cinemas and live entertainment.
