Film AlUla taps MBS Group to operate Saudi Arabia's flagship production studio
The Saudi agency signed a deal with the MBS Group, which comprises Manhattan Beach Studios – home to James Cameron's 'Avatar' sequels – for the partnership.
The deal envisages MBS Group's newly established regional unit, MBS MENA Limited, working in close collaboration with Film AlUla to develop a robust production pipeline and ensure smooth studio operations.
Maximising occupancy, streamlining production schedules, and managing leasing for both local and international projects will be part of the deal, MBS Group and Film AlUla said in a joint statement.
We've officially partnered with MBS MENA Limited, the regional arm of The MBS Group, to operate our state-of-the-art AlUla Studios.
A new era begins- bringing global expertise, top-tier tech, and a world-class network to Saudi Arabia's film future. pic.twitter.com/wegERx77I9
— Film AlUla (@filmalula) May 7, 2025
The partnership marks MBS Group's first operational footprint in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, adding to its global network of roughly 50 facilities.
Besides Manhattan Beach Studios, these include Amazon's Culver Studios, Netflix's Raleigh Studios, Radford Studio Center, Kaufman Astoria Studios, Eastbrook Studios London, Vancouver Film Studios, and Ardmore Studios Ireland.
Film AlUla's filmmaking facilities include two large soundstages, each spanning 25,828 sq. ft., a backlot, and production support buildings.
The AlUla complex also comprises a recording studio designed to accommodate a 32-piece orchestra, training and rehearsal spaces, administrative offices, and event areas.
According to the joint statement, the MBS Group's know-how will allow Film AlUla to scale up as needed going forward.
'Their global experience positions AlUla Studios to integrate cutting-edge innovations over time — including future capabilities such as volumetric stages and next-generation virtual production infrastructure—ensuring the facility remains at the forefront of technological advancement,' it said.
Jason Hariton, chief studio and real estate officer at The MBS Group, said the Group is grateful for the opportunity to expand its international presence into the growing MENA region.
'We see AlUla as a premier destination for global content creators. The city offers proximity to remarkable landscapes and first-class accommodation — and some of the industry's best financial incentives for filmmakers,' he said.
Zaid Shaker, acting executive director of Film AlUla, said partnering with MBStudios to operate AlUla Studios is a strategic leap forward in its mission to position AlUla as the premier production hub in the region.
'Their unmatched global experience brings the operational excellence needed to anchor long-term industry growth, attract high-calibre productions, and build local capabilities,' he said.
The partnership is expected to support Film AlUla's core mission to develop a sustainable film ecosystem by creating economic opportunities and engaging and training the local workforce.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Business
5 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Air Arabia-led consortium wins bid to launch new low-cost airline in Saudi Arabia
Image courtesy: WAM A consortium comprising Air Arabia, Nesma Group, and KUN Holding has won a bid from Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to establish and operate a new national low-cost airline headquartered in Dammam. The carrier will be based at King Fahd International Airport and is intended to boost both domestic and international connectivity for the Eastern Province. The win marks the result of a strategic partnership among the three firms, aimed at supporting the kingdom's aviation goals and economic development objectives. 'We are proud to have been selected by GACA to launch a new national low-cost airline headquartered in Dammam,' said Adel Al Ali, group CEO of Air Arabia. 'This achievement represents a key milestone that reaffirms our commitment to supporting the growth and development of the kingdom's aviation sector.' New airline inspired by Air Arabia's model The airline, which draws on Air Arabia's regional low-cost operating model, aims to deliver reliable and value-driven travel for passengers while creating economic opportunities in the region. According to Al Ali, the project will contribute to job creation and the broader economic development of the Eastern Province. ✈️ Big News! We're proud to announce that Air Arabia has been awarded to establish a new low-cost airline based in Dammam by Saudi Arabia's We thank — Air Arabia (@airarabiagroup) Faisal Bin Saleh Al-Turki, president of Nesma Group, and Mohamed Bin Nabil Hefni, CEO of KUN Holding, called the initiative a direct contribution to strengthening Saudi Arabia's tourism infrastructure and local economy. 'Launching a new low-cost carrier from Dammam is not merely an air transport project,' they said in a joint statement, 'but a contribution to creating high-quality jobs, empowering national talent, and supporting aviation-related commercial activity. We believe this project reflects the private sector's role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.' By 2030, the airline plans to operate 45 aircraft, covering 24 domestic and 57 international destinations, and serve around 10 million passengers annually. The project is expected to generate over 2,400 direct jobs in the aviation sector and contribute significantly to tourism and economic growth in the Eastern Province. Read:
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
Air Arabia alliance wins bid to operate low-cost airline in Saudi Arabia
UAE carrier Air Arabia is part of an alliance that won the rights to operate a new low-cost airline in Saudi Arabia to boost air connectivity in the kingdom. The new consortium will operate the airline from the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and provide competitive travel options for passengers, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a social media post on X on Sunday. Egypt's Nesma and Jeddah-based Kun Investments Holding are part of the consortium that won the bid, according to the post. The airline is expected to enhance air connectivity in the eastern region. By 2030, the new Air Arabia alliance will operate 45 aircraft and will serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations, the social media post said. It will also transport up to 10 million passengers annually and create 2,400 direct jobs by 2030. 'The establishment of a new low-cost airline in Dammam further builds Saudi Arabia's position as the world's biggest aviation growth story, with the proposals received reflecting strong global investment in Saudi aviation," Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al Jasser said. "This award will drive further growth in support of Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.' The award follows a competitive tender process initiated by Saudi Arabia's GACA, involving proposals from international, regional and domestic airlines to establish a new Dammam-based national airline with majority Saudi ownership, the authority said. The new low cost airline aims to enhance aviation sector's competitiveness as well as expand travel options and increase passenger numbers, Abdulaziz Al Duailej, president of GACA, said in a separate post on X. It is also meant to support the growth of economy and tourism in the eastern region of the kingdom, he added. The tendering process for the airline had attracted other bidders. Kuwait's Jazeera Airways had also placed a bid to launch the low-cost airline from Dammam, its chief executive told The National in an interview last year. "We do believe we have the best credentials and have submitted the best plan but this is a tendering process so it can go either way," Barathan Pasupathi had said in September. Saudi Arabia, the Arab world's largest economy, aims to diversify its economy away from oil as part of Vision 2030 programme. The kingdom's plan is to become a travel hot spot, having invested $800 billion to develop the sector and set a revised target of attracting 150 million visitors by the end of the decade. In 2023, Saudi Arabia also announced the creation of a new national airline Riyadh Air, as the kingdom seeks to develop into a global transport and logistics hub, attract tourists and diversify its economy. Riyadh Air is fully owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and is expected to begin its first commercial flight in the fourth quarter of this year. Competitive aviation market "Air Arabia would be stepping into a very competitive Saudi landscape," said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research told The National. "With flynas, flyadeal, Saudi Airlines as well as Riyadh Air all competing for domestic, regional and international traffic, Air Arabia will have to carve out a niche to ensure success." However, Air Arabia has a "suite of regional hubs so there's a good chance it can use its regional footprint to augment its planned Saudi operations", he added. "Longer term, the evolving Saudi market will change and it'll be interesting to see if Air Arabia elects to spread beyond Dammam into more competitive cities like Jeddah and Riyadh and set up camp there." Expansion of Dammam airport Separately, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, also launched the Dammam Airports Strategy and a package of integrated development projects valued at more than 1.6 billion Saudi riyals ($427 million), including 77 infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and improving the passenger experience. The strategic plan aims to accommodate more than 19.3 million passengers annually at King Fahd International Airport by 2030, doubling the number served in 2022, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It also seeks to significantly expand air cargo capacity to over 600,000 tonnes a year. Future developments include an expansion of the airport's operational capacity, increasing aircraft movements to 77 per hour and boosting annual passenger capacity to 32 million.
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Middle East emerging as a major global fintech hub
The Middle East is fast becoming one of the world's most exciting fintech frontiers. Digital banking adoption in the UAE is soaring, 89 per cent of consumers now use digital-first bank accounts, and digital payments now account for just 17 per cent cash usage in everyday transactions. Real-time payments are also growing rapidly, with the region expected to exceed 3 billion transactions by 2028. Across Mena, over 1,000 fintechs are now operating, with the sector expected to grow 35 per cent annually through 2028, more than double the global average. 'We're seeing a profound shift in how financial services are being built, delivered, and adopted in the UAE. Over the past few years, fintech adoption has widened beyond early movers into a broad, vibrant ecosystem, now home to over 300 active fintech firms. Crucially, we're seeing fintech's role expanding. While payments remains a key entry point, the growth of virtual cards, cross-border capabilities, and smarter credit solutions is opening up new opportunities across sectors, from SME lending to wealthtech,' Nauman Hassan, Regional Director Mena, Paymentology, leading global issuer-processor, told Khaleej Times. With initiatives like the Central Bank's FIT Programme and Dubai's push to become a digital-first economy (which is near completion), the architecture of the future is being built. 'High smartphone penetration at 96 per cent, growing comfort with digital payments, and the rise of digital-native banks like Wio and Zand are accelerating this momentum,' Hassan said. The UAE's push toward a cashless society is well underway. Dubai, for example, has digitised over 97 per cent of government payments, and in 2025, DIFC and Dubai Finance launched workshops to help businesses make the switch. 'We're proud to play a foundational role in this shift. Our cloud-first platform enables banks and fintechs to launch digital-first card programmes at speed, whether physical, virtual or tokenised. Our work with partners like Mamo in the UAE illustrates this impact clearly: together, we're helping small businesses access fast, secure, multi-currency payment options - moving them away from cash-based transactions toward streamlined digital flows. And because we support real-time data and multi-currency settlement, we empower fintechs to launch smarter, more accessible financial products from day one. To support this momentum on the ground, Paymentology recently expanded its regional presence with a new office in Dubai. 'This hub strengthens our ability to serve clients across Mena with specialised support, faster implementation, and deep local expertise, accelerating the shift to digital payments across the region,' Hassan said. In a country as digitally advanced as the UAE, trust in payment systems is the currency of continued innovation. Every day, over Dh11 million is lost to fraud, studies show. And as adoption of digital payments accelerates, the potential attack surface for cyber threats expands with it. 'We believe security must evolve just as quickly as the technologies it's designed to protect. Tokenisation is one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal. By replacing card numbers with unique digital tokens, we remove sensitive data from the threat landscape entirely, a move that can reduce fraud by up to 60 per cent. We've invested heavily in tokenisation because we believe cards are just one way to pay; the mechanism behind the card will remain, but we'll increasingly see payments shift to mobile devices and digital wallets, whether through global platforms like Apple Pay or proprietary solutions from banks, fintechs, and super apps,' Hassan said. AI is fast becoming the engine driving the industry forward. From real-time fraud detection to intelligent credit scoring, AI is transforming how financial services are delivered, and who can access them. A few years ago the UAE government partnered with Mastercard to accelerate the adoption or AI. More recently we had the announcement granting nationwide access to ChatGPT Plus, giving every student, entrepreneur, and professional free use of GPT-4o is a world first. As well as development of 'Stargate', one of the world's largest AI supercomputing clusters. 'At Paymentology, we're seeing the value of AI unfold across our organisation. Our teams are increasingly leveraging AI in their day-to-day operations from improving internal workflows to enhancing client support. Our API sandbox already incorporates AI to help fintechs experiment and innovate more efficiently, and we're actively exploring new opportunities to integrate AI across our platform. Ultimately, fintech thrives when it's built on real-time data, intelligence, and speed. AI supercharges all three, and the UAE is building the infrastructure to scale it across borders,' Hassan said.
