The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) is a key financial enabler for the cultural sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, playing a vital role in supporting its global leadership in culture, heritage, arts, and related areas by providing sustainable financing to develop, innovate, and grow these cultural sectors.
The Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing its cultural vision led to the establishment of the CDF to achieve the national strategic cultural goals aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to realize a comprehensive and sustainable cultural renaissance both locally and internationally.
The CDF is currently accepting applications for cultural funding from interested parties and entrepreneurs through its website: https://ndf.gov.sa/ar/home/.
The CDF serves as a beacon and cornerstone in supporting cultural projects and activities in the Kingdom. It aims to provide necessary funding for diverse cultural sectors, facilitate investment in culture to enhance its profitability, and empower individuals and i
nstitutions to actively engage in cultural endeavors, making them partners in the process of cultural development.
The Fund recently announced the financing of projects and establishments across 16 cultural sectors, including film and visual content, visual arts, fashion design, performing arts, culinary arts, cultural heritage, cultural festivals, natural heritage, poetry, antiquities, music, libraries, language, books, architecture, and museums. This initiative aims to develop and sustain the cultural sector, enhance its creative output, and contribute to maximizing its impact on the national economy and GDP.
The Fund offers flexible and easy financing solutions with competitive advantages, using a mechanism designed to enhance profits and reduce risks for both the beneficiary establishments and partnering local banks. The program targets micro, small, and medium-sized cultural establishments, enabling them to launch and expand their businesses through a range of short- and long-term financial products.
CDF’s efforts align with the goals of the National Strategy for Culture, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a global hub for culture, literature, arts, heritage, and related events. The Fund’s mission is to support and develop the cultural sectors by providing sustainable funding sourced from both public and private entities.
CEO Majed Al-Hogail highlighted that this cultural financing initiative marks a new phase in CDF’s efforts to empower the cultural sector. By collaborating with local banks, the Fund aims to offer a financing solution that meets the needs of cultural sector pioneers and elevates their ambitions, driving fundamental change in the sector and building a vibrant, competitive society and knowledge economy.
Source: Saudi Press Agency