A major new film studio is being constructed in the Fadhla area of AlUla and will comprise two 24,000ft2 sound stages, catering, production offices, a backlot, and film clusters.
Talking to Screen at the Cannes Film Festival Film AlUla’s Film Commissioner, Stephen Strachan, explained: “We are keen to support local productions, but also attract more international productions to AlUla and building a studio (one of the first in Saudi Arabia) will help achieve this. We have already been granted permission to build the studio and are currently planning construction, with the aim of having the studio open by February 2023. We want filming to take place there all year round.”
To support the studio infrastructure, a resort-style complex is also being built around 15 minutes away. The compound will have around 300 units mixed between accommodation and offices to assist and accommodate productions, and studio staff.
AlUla is already popular within the region, registering 639 filming days from January to March 2022, with recent ‘wraps’ including Gerard Butler’s ‘Kandahar’ and ‘Cherry’, an Iraqi war story.
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