NEOM, the Saudi Arabian region that is aiming to become a major film and TV production hub, has announced the opening of its NEOM Media Village and Bajdah Desert Studios, comprising several sound stages and production support facilities. Situated along the kingdom’s Red Sea coast in Tabuk, in the northwest of the kingdom, NEOM is a sprawling area roughly the size of Belgium. Besides coral reefs and heritage sites, it also comprises mountains and generally has a cooler temperature than most of the region.
The new NEOM Media Village currently features one 2,400-square-meter (more than 25,000 square feet) sound stage, complete with facilities such as make-up rooms, green rooms and production offices, plus three more stages under construction.
“Clearly production incentives play a vital role in terms of attracting productions but are best leveraged when the entire package is in place: infrastructure, on-the-ground international production expertise, crew depth and ease of doing business,” said Director Wayne Borg.
NEOM has already hosted some 25 productions during the past 18 months, including Hollywood-style tentpole “Desert Warrior,” featuring an all-star international cast led by “Captain America” star Anthony Mackie and directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Planet of the Apes”).
Read the full story at Variety