Jordan Seeks To Entice International Productions With Bolstered 45% Cash Rebate
The new package of incentives, which was approved by the Jordanian cabinet on Sunday, aims to support the local film industry at the same time as bolstering Jordan's position as a destination for international film and TV productions.
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With its world heritage sites such as Petra and stunning desert landscapes, which include Wadi Rum, Jordan has worked hard to establish itself as shooting destination over the past two decades with productions touching down in the territory including Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Dune 2, JJ Abrams' Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker, and Guy Richie's Aladdin.
Instability in the region, in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel and the resulting Israeli military campaign in Gaza, has dented the territory's popularity, even though a handful of ambitious regional productions have shot there since.
The country is out in force at Cannes this year with a campaign to kick-start its international production business, and make it more competitive alongside other locations in the MENA region offering attractive incentives.
The new package includes a scalable cash rebate ranging from 25% to 45% on qualifying in-country spend, determined by a points-based system assessing the project's size, incorporation of Jordanian cultural content, and its artistic, cultural, and economic value.
Projects with production expenditures exceeding $10 million and integrating Jordanian cultural elements can qualify for the maximum rebate of 45%. For local productions, the rebate has been raised from 10% to 30% for projects with spending over $500,000—part of a broader effort to empower Jordanian producers and stimulate the domestic production industry.
Mohannad Al-Bakri, Managing Director of the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, said of the new package: 'The amendments aim to enhance Jordan's competitiveness as a major film production hub in the region by creating a supportive environment that fosters creativity, provides robust infrastructure, and facilitates the exchange of expertise, training, and knowledge transfer. They also aim to boost film tourism by promoting filming locations and highlighting Jordanian cultural identity and heritage in global productions.'
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