The Al-Hisn Big Time Studios, a fully integrated media city just outside Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, is open for business and poised to become the next global hot spot for high-end film production. Commissioned by the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority (GEA) to promote the film and TV production industry in the Middle East, the Al-Hisn Big Time Studios are a key component of Saudi Arabia's broader “Vision 2030” initiative to diversify its economy and boost the entertainment sector in the region. ARRI, a worldwide technology leader in Media & Entertainment as well as a premiere solutions and equipment provider, and Sela, an entertainment and hospitality expert specializing in experiences, events, and destinations in Saudi Arabia, were behind this cutting-edge project.
A look inside the Stage B volume at the Al-Hisn Big Time Studios
Located just west of Riyadh and inaugurated by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of GEA, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh in November 2024, the Al-Hisn Big Time Studios is one of the largest and most modern studios for film and television production in the Middle East. The studios significantly expand the production landscape in the region and support the sector on par with global standards.
As part of the Joy Forum, a premier global entertainment and media conference held in Riyadh under the umbrella of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), ARRI recognized the completion of the Al-Hisn Big Time Studios and presented the coveted ARRI Stage Accreditation to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh. Upon presenting the certificate and award at ARRI’s booth at Joy Forum, Kevin Schwutke, SVP Corporate Development, Brand and New Business ARRI Group, and responsible for ARRI’s partnership with GEA and Sela, remarked, “It has been an incredible honor to be part of this ground-breaking project in Riyadh! I would like to thank our partners at the General Entertainment Authority, Sela, Al-Hisn Big Time Studios, and specifically, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh & Mr. Adnan Kayal for their trust and passion that made this vision a reality.”
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh (center) accepting the ARRI Stage Accreditation on behalf of the Al Hisn Big Time Studios and GEA together with several members of the ARRI Team at the Joy Forum: (from left to right) Kevin Schwutke, Jannik Abelt, Dr. Benedikt von Lindeiner, and André Rittner.
The Al-Hisn Big Time Studios is ARRI’s largest virtual production project to date, and the first ARRI accredited virtual production stage in the region. For this project, ARRI was tasked with the overall consulting, design, construction, and workflow integration.
The Al-Hisn Big Time Studios complex features several studio buildings covering an area of 10,500 square meters; the total project area measures 300,000 square meters. Key features of the VP volume include a 15 m 360° turntable, an overhead rain system, and more than 300 sqm of LED panels. Stage A, a multi-use studio space, spans 5,000 square meters and can be divided into three studios with movable partitions and features an indoor water tank measuring. Stage B houses a dedicated museum showcasing the history of ARRI with a collection of vintage equipment. The production village of the complex includes a 50 x 50-meter outdoor pool with a depth of three meters designed for ultimate freedom when filming outdoor aquatic scenes and an open backlot village area that extends over 150,000 square meters. Other premium facilities include luxury suites, film production offices, and fully equipped editing rooms, creating a comprehensive production environment that meets all cinema and television industry needs.
Inside Stage B at Al-Hisn Big Time Studios with its massive projection area
The studios are also equipped with the latest lighting and camera technology from ARRI including ALEXA 35, SkyPanel X, Orbiter, and Signature Zoom lenses. Looking back on the collaboration, ARRI Project Manager, André Rittner, expresses his sincere thanks on behalf of the entire ARRI project team: “David Hourany and his studio operator team placed their trust in us, and in turn, the collaboration was very harmonious and successful. The expertise and commitment required to manage a project of this scale and complexity were delivered precisely and to the complete satisfaction of all parties.”
The innovative stage if fully equipped with the latest camera and lighting technology from ARRI
The ARRI Stage Accreditation is a prestigious global certification that sets the benchmark for excellence in virtual production. Designed to build trust and highlight superior technical standards, it recognizes studios—whether newly built by ARRI or independently developed—that meet ARRI’s rigorous criteria for image quality, studio design, and workflow reliability.
The Al-Hisn Big Time Studios demonstrates how ARRI continues to expand and diversify its competencies globally, further establishing the company as a Motion Picture and Live Entertainment provider in the Middle East.
Opening Image: ©AlHisnBigTimeStudios, 2025
