The Cultural Fund concluded its participation in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, held from January 19 to 23, marking a distinctive presence described as the first of its kind for Saudi culture at one of the world’s leading economic platforms. The participation highlighted the rising economic role of the cultural sector within the Kingdom’s broader development agenda.
During a panel discussion, the fund’s CEO Majed Al-Hogail emphasized that Saudi Arabia views culture as a key enabler of economic diversification and quality-of-life improvement. He noted that by 2030, the cultural sector is expected to contribute approximately SR180 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP, create more than 346,000 jobs, and attract 22 million visitors to cultural events and sites.
Participating through the Saudi House pavilion, the Cultural Fund engaged with more than 200 international experts, investors, and decision-makers through meetings and dialogue sessions, alongside impactful contributions from its beneficiaries on the NextOn platform. Culture was presented as a productive economic sector that extends beyond its traditional creative role to become a sustainable development driver.
The fund highlighted the role of financing in supporting cultural entrepreneurship and maximizing the economic impact of creative industries by enabling several beneficiaries to take part in NextOn discussions. Among them was Princess Noura bint Saud bin Naif, co-founder of the Creative Al-Mashtal Incubator, who discussed culture as an economic infrastructure and a tool for human capital empowerment. Engineer Khaled Al-Hunaidi, CEO of Arabian Housing and Development, also contributed insights focused on the value of cultural assets.
Looking ahead, the fund held six side meetings exploring opportunities for international cooperation and partnerships, while showcasing the Saudi cultural market’s potential to attract global investment. It also distributed 150 copies of the investment report “Saudi Cultural Market Outlook 2025: Vision, Impact, and Opportunities”, produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Investment, and the Invest in Saudi initiative.
The participation also featured national cultural products, with the display of 60 fashion items designed by Sumoodah, a fund-supported brand, reflecting the growing economic value and momentum of Saudi Arabia’s fashion sector.
This participation reinforces the Cultural Fund’s role as a center of excellence and financial empowerment for the Kingdom’s cultural sector, advancing the global presence of Saudi culture and amplifying its economic and social impact in alignment with Vision 2030.
