Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding array of production facilities added another major hub this week with the official opening of PlayMaker Studios, a state-of-the-art filmmaking complex located in Qiddiya City, just outside Riyadh. The launch coincides with the start of pre-production on Unbroken Sword, a large-scale historical action feature directed by Game of Thrones and House of Cards veteran Alik Sakharov, which will be the first project to shoot at the facility.
The film, produced by Sela and sponsored by the General Entertainment Authority and Riyadh Season, is expected to begin principal photography in early 2026. More than 200 crew members are already on site preparing to utilize PlayMaker’s new soundstages and the area’s dramatic backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains, which frame the studio development on the desert’s edge.
Spanning more than 50 acres, PlayMaker Studios features two purpose-built soundstages, extensive workshops and production facilities, contemporary offices, backlots, and on-site amenities. Construction is already underway on two additional stages slated for completion in 2026, expanding the facility’s capacity for multiple international shoots. The complex will also soon include postproduction, VFX, and music studios, forming a key pillar of Qiddiya City’s broader entertainment ecosystem.
Playmaker Studios at Qiddiya City.
Qiddiya City, a massive entertainment-and-lifestyle megaproject located roughly 45 miles southwest of Riyadh, is being built as Saudi Arabia’s flagship “city of play” — eventually spanning more than 140 square miles and combining theme parks, sporting venues, resorts, cultural centers, housing and entertainment infrastructure as part of the country’s sweeping Vision 2030 development drive.
“PlayMaker Studios is a cornerstone of Qiddiya City’s ambition and builds on Saudi Arabia’s growing success in the creative industries,” said Abdullah Aldawood, managing director of Qiddiya Investment Company. “It marks an important step in strengthening this momentum and realizing our vision to create a world-class destination where innovation, culture and entertainment come together.”
Producer Richard Sharkey (House of the Dragon, The Lord of the Rings franchise), who is overseeing Unbroken Sword, added: “Being the first production to use the facility is both a privilege and a responsibility. The scale, support and ambition at Qiddiya City are unmatched, and the Tuwaiq Mountains offer an epic canvas we simply couldn’t find anywhere else.”
The Qiddiya development joins a growing constellation of purpose-built film and television hubs across Saudi Arabia, part of a multi-billion-dollar push to position the Kingdom as a regional and global production power. Recent additions include AlUla Studios, which began operations this year with Chasing Red (starring Madelaine Petsch and Gavin Casalegno), and NEOM’s Media Village and Bajdah Desert Studios, which have hosted projects ranging from Desert Warrior to international commercials and streaming series. Together, these new facilities are transforming Saudi Arabia into one of the Middle East’s most technically advanced production environments, although staffing experienced crew remains a challenge in the region.
Saudi Arabia currently offers one of the world’s most competitive screen incentives: a 40 percent cash rebate on production expenditure, accessible through entities like PlayMaker Studios and NEOM.
The announcement of PlayMaker Studios’ opening comes midway through the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, another key component of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to position itself as the region’s ascendant entertainment hub.
