Saudi Arabian director Abdulaziz Alshlahei shoots his new film in Neom

Hobal stars Mohammed Altoyan and Mishal Almutairi.

If you’ve been wondering what Neom will look like, you’ll soon be able to see it on the silver screen. Saudi Arabian director Abdulaziz Alshlahei will begin shooting his new film in Neom.

Taking us back to the early 90s, Hobal will follow a Saudi family living in total isolation in the desert. It’s written by a recipient of a fund award at the Saudi Film Commission, Mufarrej Al-Majfel. Starring Mohammed Altoyan and Mishal Almutairi, this Saudi cast is ready to bring the heat.

Hobal is Abdulaziz’s third feature film. His previous films include Zero Distance and The Tambour of Retribution – the latter won a Cairo Film Festival award, and was also selected as Saudi Arabia’s entry for Oscars 2022.

Abdulaziz shared: “Since 2018, we have been thinking about unique locations to shoot our film. We decided on Neom, and specifically Bajdah, where the captivating landscapes will be an influential and integral part of the narrative.” And to capture the beauty of the setting, anamorphic lenses will be used by the film’s DOP.

And Neom’s committed to providing full support. Everything from crew, location, logistics, production and sound will be managed by Bajdah Studios in Neom. They also offer state-of-the-art facilities to make the shooting process a whole lot easier.

Neom has been making waves left and right with some seriously cool projects. The likes of Rupert Wyatt’s Desert Warrior, starring Anthony Mackie and Sir Ben Kingsley was shot here. Even Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan shot parts of his upcoming film in Neom. It has also made its mark on the reality TV scene with the first-ever regional reality show called Million Dollar Island.

Abdulaziz and Neom’s collaboration is a sign that Saudi Arabia is taking its place on the global film stage. It’s a testament to the commitment to nurturing local talent, supporting homegrown stories, and fostering a vibrant film ecosystem. Saudi cinema is ready to shine.

GO: Visit www.neom.com for more information.