With breathtaking landscapes, tax incentives, and unique filming opportunities, the Middle East and North Africa is quickly proving itself to be a hotspot for film productions. Dune, for example, was filmed in Wadi Rum, with the filming team returning once again for the second instalment of the movie.
Even though Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco have been popular filming locations for some time, Saudi Arabia’s NEOM is emerging as a hotspot for production, and with movies like Hajjan helping to showcase the Red Sea Coast, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the region soar in popularity over the coming years.
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The Cinematic Appeal of the Sahara
North Africa, and the Sahara Desert in particular, still enchants filmmakers to this day. The rolling dunes and the many hidden oases all provide almost an otherworldly landscape that has gone on to inspire the plot of many movies.
One of them would be Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which uses the Sahara’s vast landscape in the main storyline. The timeless appeal of locations like this goes far beyond movies, too. Games, for example, like Assassin’s Creed Origins, feature a fully explorable Sahara desert.
ArmA 3 also has a Sahara DLC that you can download as an expansion to the game. In other entertainment areas, like iGaming, the Sahara Desert also makes an appearance. The Megaways casino game Sahara Riches Megaways Cash Collect, is based entirely on the Sahara Desert. With golden sands, mythical treasures, and the architectural wonders that are built around it, it really embraces the mystique of the area, while aligning with the classic format of a slot game.
When you break everything down, it’s not surprising to see that the grandeur of the Sahara is attracting not only filmmakers but also game developers. As regional expertise across the Middle East and North Africa grows, we can expect to see even more film crews flock to diverse locations such as this.
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Infrastructure Improvements Have a Huge Role to Play
Infrastructure improvements also have a big role to play here. Modern studios, experienced local crews, and post-production facilities all mean that film crews can now handle way more complex movie shoots without having to import their own resources. On top of this, it’s much easier to ensure a smoother filming experience overall.
The Middle East is able to offer locations that simply can’t be recreated. Whether that is an ancient city or whether it is a bustling urban town, locations like this not only help to show authenticity, but also diversity. It’s also easier to create visually-appealing narratives while exploring new culturally-focused concepts.
With other recent successful Hollywood movies like F1, Now You See Me 3, and The Misfits all filmed in the Middle East, it’s very clear to see that film crews are now seeking out new and exciting opportunities, with diverse landscapes that bring something new to the big screen.
With the Middle East and North Africa becoming such hotspots as of late, it would not be surprising to see more and more film crews choose this as their location of choice.
