US-based The MBS Group has signed a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Film AlUla to exclusively manage and operate AlUla Studios.
It marks the first move into the Middle East for The MBS Group, the studio operator and production services company known as the home of James Cameron’s Avatar franchise, which services more than 600 sound stages across North America and Europe and supports more than 1,000 productions a year.
It has created MBS MENA Limited to oversee the management of AlUla Studios, which opened last year and includes two 26,000 square foot soundstages, alongside production support buildings. The complex also features 15,400 square feet of workshops for each stage as well as a 61,500 square foot backlot. There is also a recording studio designed for a 32-piece orchestra, training and rehearsal spaces, administrative offices, and event areas.
MBS MENA Limited will closely with Film AlUla, the film agency of the Royal Commission for AlUla, to “develop a robust production pipeline and ensure smooth studio operations”. This will include maximising occupancy, streamlining production schedules, and managing leasing for both local and international projects.
“We see AlUla as a premier destination for global content creators,” said Jason Hariton, chief studio and real estate officer at The MBS Group. “The city offers proximity to remarkable landscapes and first-class accommodation, and some of the industry’s best financial incentives for filmmakers.”
AlUla is a region in northwestern Saudi Arabia that is around the size of Belgium and is known for its red sandstone cliffs and mountains, oases and ancient cities such as Unesco world heritage site Hegra. Saudi’s incentive programme offers a lucrative 40% rebate to projects shooting in the country.
The MBS Group’s global network of 50 facilities around the world include sites such as Manhattan Beach Studios – the company’s namesake and home to the blockbuster Avatar films – Amazon’s Culver Studios, Netflix’s Raleigh Studios, Radford Studio Center, Kaufman Astoria Studios, Eastbrook Studios London, Vancouver Film Studios, and Ardmore Studios Ireland.
In addition to its operational mandate, The MBS Group said it would bring “deep technical expertise that can scale alongside the evolving needs of the industry” including future capabilities such as volumetric stages and next-generation virtual production infrastructure.
Further, MBS MENA Limited will prioritise hiring Saudi nationals, particularly AlUla residents, for studio operations and support roles. This initiative will also include training and development opportunities for local talent to build skills in studio management and production services. The Studios will support local businesses by sourcing goods, services and operational needs using AlUla-based suppliers where feasible and collaborating with local artisans and craftspeople to integrate regional aesthetics and cultural identity into productions.
Zaid Shaker, acting executive director of Film AlUla, said the move marked “a strategic leap forward in our mission to position AlUla as the premier production hub in the region” and would “anchor long-term industry growth, attract high-calibre productions, and build local capabilities.”
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