Saudi company Mung Investments has announced a strategic partnership with global creative manufacturing firm Defara, aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s creative industries across multiple sectors, including entertainment venues, event production, sports, tourism, culture, and urban development.
Abdulaziz Al-Muqayteeb, founder and chief executive of Mung Investments, said the partnership represents a significant addition to the group’s investment portfolio, highlighting Defara’s global expertise in creative manufacturing and its official certification by The Walt Disney Company. He also noted Defara’s involvement in major international projects, including those linked to the FIFA World Cup.
Al-Muqayteeb highlighted Defara’s extensive experience in large-scale artistic fabrication and structural engineering for entertainment environments, theme parks, and public spaces. He said that localizing creative manufacturing in Saudi Arabia will enhance production quality and expand the presence of advanced creative industries across the Kingdom.
“Defara’s services will be delivered through DC Factory, a subsidiary of the Mung Group,” Al-Muqayteeb said. “Our companies will act as industrial enablers for major creative concepts by integrating art, urban design, and engineering to transform ideas into executable, sustainable, and structurally safe projects, from development through to installation.”
He added: “The partnership is expected to generate a direct economic impact estimated at around SR200 million ($53.3 million) annually, driven by the localization of creative manufacturing, improved execution efficiency, reduced reliance on imports for major creative projects, and the export of creative manufacturing capabilities.” He noted that this impact is supported by growing local and regional demand for creative manufacturing, alongside the continued expansion of the entertainment and events sectors and ongoing efforts to enhance the urban landscape across the Kingdom.
Commenting on the partnership, Shi Song, co-founder of Defara, said: “We have a strong international presence, and we see our entry into the Saudi market through local partnerships as a historic opportunity. We are very excited to work in the Kingdom by transferring and localizing knowledge in collaboration with MungInvestments.”
Defara works with both public and private sector entities, global theme park operators, intellectual property owners, major brands, artists, and cultural institutions. The company has delivered projects for more than 150 clients worldwide, including leading entertainment and IP companies such as Walt Disney, Marvel Entertainment, Pixar, Lucasfilm (Star Wars), Warner Bros. Discovery, Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The company has also provided services to global toy and character brands including LEGO Group, Nintendo, Hasbro, Mattel, Bandai Namco, and The Pokémon Company, as well as major content and entertainment platforms such as Netflix, Amazon MGM Studios, and Apple Studios.
Defara has contributed to large-scale entertainment destination projects in collaboration with operators such as Disney, Universal, Merlin Entertainments, and SeaWorld, delivering immersive environments, sculptures, and themed scenic elements.
Defara is a fully integrated creative manufacturing company with production facilities exceeding 60,000 square meters, combining metal fabrication, composite materials, and 3D printing. Its high-quality finishes are designed to ensure durability and sustainability while adapting to diverse climatic conditions and terrains.
