Saudi Film Commission (SFC) is aiming to put Saudi capital city Riyadh firmly on the international film production map with the opening of production complex Jax Film Studios.
The facility, unveiled at Cannes Film Festival in May and opening at the end of 2025, is based in central Riyadh’s Jax District and measures more than 7,000 square metres. It includes two 1,500 square metre soundstages and a virtual production facility supported by Sony.
“Jax Film Studios is a milestone in the trajectory of Saudi filmmaking,” said SFC CEO Abdullah Naser Al-Qahtani. “Investing in world-class virtual production infrastructure is a strategic step toward building a globally competitive film industry and reflects the commission’s commitment to empowering filmmakers with the technologies, facilities and partnerships that support their creativity and output at the highest levels.”
The VR studio — designed by VFX company Pixomondo, which has worked on productions including HBO’s House Of The Dragon and Apple TV’s Chief Of War — features 2,720 Sony Verona Crystal LED panels, using the tech company’s 2.3mm pixel pitch technology.
Setting standards
Measuring 23 metres in diameter, 27.5 metres in depth and 10 metres in height, the VR facility enables integration of camera tracking, real-time rendering and in-camera VFX workflows. It has been engineered to support high-resolution, photorealistic environments built to meet the demands of major Hollywood and international productions.
Sony is the primary tech partner across the complex, providing technology, training and know-how transfer to Saudi talent.
The studios aim to foster a vibrant creative community by hosting screenings, premieres and educational workshops. Further facilities include a multi-purpose hall, cinema theatre, pre-shoot rooms, VIP make-up and hospitality services.
The complex will also support SFC’s Filmmakers Programme and training initiatives, which engaged more than 6,500 participants last year.
Jax Film Studios also houses SFC’s National Film Archive, a resource for filmmakers, scholars and the public that has preserved more than 68,000 items since 2022, with 6,439 new acquisitions and more than 1,000 items catalogued in 2024.
A business support hub functions as an incubator and accelerator for small and medium-sized enterprises, startups and content creators, and provides training, networking and administrative support.
Jax Film Studios is a flagship example of SFC’s long-term investment in infrastructure, talent development and global industry partnerships. The facility has been developed to support the government’s Vision 2030 blueprint for creative industry growth and economic diversification, and position the Kingdom as a global hub for international co-productions. This includes a target for 100 international and local films to be shot in the Kingdom by the end of the decade.
Jax Film Studios aims to extend the footprint of Riyadh’s creative sector and establish the city as a global film capital.
Saudi Arabia currently has 17 operational film studios with a combined 100,000 square metres of studio space, including Bajdah Studios in the smart-city of Neom and the AlUla complex that opened in December 2024. Most, however, are based in the capital, which has a growing creative workforce and is accessible to international productions via King Khalid International Airport.
There are 65 active production companies and seven distributors in the Kingdom, and 57 productions received funding support last year. A range of incentives, including cash rebates of more than 40% for local and international film and TV productions shooting in Saudi Arabia, have generated more than sar1bn ($267m) in production expenditure in the Kingdom since 2020.
Contact: Saudi Film Commission
