Takeover Films

RecceLocations

Filming locations in Saudi Arabia

From Riyadh’s arenas to AlUla’s sandstone and the Red Sea coast, we scout, permit and run the logistics for your shoot across the Kingdom.

Tell us the look you need See the recce board
Behind the scenes on MBC's Sharar, desert south of Riyadh: a stunt performer mid-fall onto crash mats, with camera and boom operators nearby
MBC Sharar, desert south of Riyadh

Recce boardSix locations

Where we take crews.

Six places we cover, and what we set up for a shoot in each.

  1. LOC 01

    Riyadh

    Riyadh Province, centre

    Looks
    The capital: arenas and stadiums, modern towers, the old mud-brick district of At-Turaif in Diriyah, and open desert on the city’s edge.
    Our work here
    Our unit base. DAZN’s Riyadh Season boxing, WWE in Riyadh, and MBC’s Sharar in the desert south of the city.

    Asian Cup host city

  2. LOC 02

    Jeddah

    Makkah Province, Red Sea coast

    Looks
    A Red Sea port city: the historic Al-Balad district, the waterfront and corniche, and two of the Asian Cup stadiums.
    Our work here
    Where we worked on Netflix’s Saudi Pro League documentary.

    Asian Cup host city

  3. LOC 03

    AlUla

    Madinah Province, northwest

    Looks
    Sandstone canyons and rock formations, oasis palm groves, and Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
    Our work here
    We coordinate the shoot with the Royal Commission for AlUla.

  4. LOC 04

    NEOM

    Tabuk Province, northwest

    Looks
    Mountains running down to the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea coast.
    Our work here
    We coordinate the shoot with NEOM.

  5. LOC 05

    The Red Sea

    West coast, islands and reefs

    Looks
    Coral reefs, islands and long stretches of coastline along the west of the Kingdom.
    Our work here
    Boat charters for marine and underwater work, and coordination with the Saudi Red Sea Authority.

  6. LOC 06

    Al Khobar

    Eastern Province, Arabian Gulf coast

    Looks
    A Gulf coast city next to Dammam and Dhahran, with the new Aramco Stadium.
    Our work here
    Crews, transport and kit for the Asian Cup 2027.

    Asian Cup host city

05:30Call sheet

What we set up on location.

Takeover Films Recce
Production
Yours
Unit base
Riyadh
Coverage
All of Saudi Arabia
DepartmentWhat we cover
ScoutingLocation scouting and recce photos before you travel.
AgreementsLocation agreements with owners and venues.
PermitsFilming permits for public locations, clearance for government sites, and drone permits.
SetsSet builds when the location you need does not exist yet.
LogisticsVehicles, camera and lighting kit, accommodation, and boat charters for marine and underwater work.
CrewLocal crews and specialists in every department, and visas for the crew you bring.
Cultural researchBackground research and on-set guidance so contributors are comfortable and your story reads right here.

Shooting a feature film or documentary? Spend in the Kingdom can earn up to 60% back from the Film Commission.

NotesProduction office

Questions about locations.

Where can we film in Saudi Arabia?

Cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, heritage sites, the desert, AlUla’s canyons, the mountains of the northwest and the Red Sea coast, with the right permits for each. Tell us the look you need and we will suggest locations and send recce photos.

Do we need permits for each location?

Filming in a public location needs a permit from the General Authority for Media Regulation, government sites need clearance from that entity, and drones need a permit from civil aviation. We map them out for every location on your schedule.

Can you scout before we arrive?

Yes. We scout locations and send recce photos so you can choose before you travel.

Can we film at sea or underwater?

Yes. We arrange boat charters for marine and underwater work along the Red Sea coast.

Who are Takeover Films?

A production services company in Riyadh, founded in 2023 by producer Mustafa Abdelaziz, who has worked on productions in Saudi Arabia since 2018. Credits include Netflix, DAZN, MBC and VICE.

21:00Next call

Tell us the look you need.

Send us your story, dates and the places you have in mind, and we will come back with locations, recce photos and a plan.

Message us on WhatsApp pr@takeoverfilms.com