Saudi veteran actor Ibrahim Al Hasawi honored amid cinema revival
Star of stage, screen and streaming platforms reflects on decades of change as Saudi films reach global acclaim
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Saudi actor Ibrahim Al Hasawi, a towering figure in the Kingdom’s cultural landscape, has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award at the Saudi Film Festival, marking a high point in a career that has spanned four decades and helped usher in a new era of Saudi storytelling.
Al Hasawi, 60, has appeared in 45 stage plays, 90 television series, and 15 films. Once a rising talent from Al Ahsa, he is now widely regarded as a central figure in Saudi Arabia’s creative renaissance.
His recent success parallels the transformation of the Saudi film industry, which has rapidly evolved from grassroots efforts to internationally celebrated productions.
“It’s amazing,” Al Hasawi said in a recent interview. “In just a few short years, we’ve seen a major leap in Saudi filmmaking.”
His latest film, Hobal, directed by Abdulaziz Al Shalahi, is set in the weeks leading up to the 1990 Gulf War.
Al Hasawi plays a conservative desert patriarch who resists societal change. The role, he says, is grounded in real-life figures he knew from his childhood village.
“I remember when radios first appeared—some people said Judgment Day was coming because ‘iron had started speaking,’” he recalled. “My grandmother would cover her face when a male anchor came on TV. It was all so new and strange.”
Al Hasawi began his career in theatre and rose to prominence on Gulf television. He now stars in major Saudi productions screened at festivals such as Cannes and Venice, a testament to the global reach of the Kingdom’s evolving cinema industry. He credits the Vision 2030 reforms for this progress.
“Now we have the Theatre Commission, the Film Commission, and the Visual Arts Commission,” he said. “There’s been a real transformation. We’re telling our own stories—fantasy, comedy, action. This is crucial—getting Saudi artistic voices out to the world.”
While he hasn’t returned to the stage recently, Al Hasawi says he misses theatre every day, likening it to the energy of a live football match. “It’s immersive,” he said. “Theatre is the same. When you’re there, it’s an event, a connection.”
With streaming platforms expanding and Saudi films drawing international acclaim, Al Hasawi says the future is bright.
From a time when female characters were only mentioned off-stage to today’s cinematic diversity, the veteran actor sees his long-held dream finally taking shape.
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