PlayMaker Studios, a state-of-the-art 50-acre film complex in Qiddiya City near Riyadh, has opened in Saudi Arabia. This is an important step in the country’s Vision 2030 plan to become a global entertainment hub. The building has two state-of-the-art soundstages, production workshops, offices, backlots, and other facilities. Two more soundstages are being built and will be finished in 2026. It has music, VFX, and post-production studios, and it gives international projects a 40% cash rebate on production costs.
Alik Sakharov, who directed Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, will direct Unbroken Sword, the studio’s first movie. It’s a historical action epic about Khalid ibn Al-Walid, an Arab military leader, and the Battle of Yarmouk. The General Entertainment Authority and Riyadh Season helped Sela make the movie. Principal photography will begin in early 2026, and more than 200 crew members are already on set. The movie uses the dramatic Tuwaiq Mountains as a backdrop and advanced soundstages for its big battles.
Qiddiya City is a huge project that covers 140 square miles southwest of Riyadh. It includes PlayMaker Studios, theme parks, sports venues like a Formula One track and Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, resorts, and cultural centers. The project hopes to bring millions of tourists to Saudi Arabia and make it a leader in MENA production, following places like AlUla Studios and NEOM Media Village. Producers praise the unique landscapes, support, and scale that can’t be found anywhere else.
