Takeover Films

07:00Permits

Filming permits in Saudi Arabia

Filming, drone and location permits, script approval and crew visas, in hand before your crew lands, so the day starts on time.

Tell us where you are filming See what you need
Takeover Films Ref. TKV-2027-014

Filming permit request

Production
Your production
Locations
Riyadh, AlUla, the Red Sea
Shoot dates
Your dates
Aerial
Drone, two operators
Crew
International and local
Equipment
Camera, lighting, grip
An illustration. The approvals a shoot needs depend on its locations and plans, and we map them out with you first.

05:30Call sheet

What a shoot in Saudi Arabia needs.

The rules as published by Film Saudi, the Saudi Film Commission’s production office.

Filming in Saudi Arabia Permits
Filming
Media authority
Drones
Civil aviation (GACA)
Script
Approved first
Foreign crew
Work visas
ForWhat you need
Public locationsFilming in a public location needs a permit from the General Authority for Media Regulation.
Script approvalScripts, treatments, storyboards and series synopses are approved by the same authority.
Government sitesFilming at a government site needs clearance from that entity.
NeighboursOnly the permit from the primary location is needed; surrounding landlords do not need permits.
DronesAerial filming needs a permit from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
Crew visasEvery non-Saudi crew member needs a work visa to film. Fees depend on the visa type and are not covered by the cash rebate.
EquipmentImport procedures depend on the kit you bring in.
Production companyProduction companies need a commercial registration in the Kingdom, or work with a Saudi production company.

Source: Film Saudi questions and answers, checked October 2026. The authorities’ current terms always have the final word.

ScheduleFrom brief to shoot day

How we get them in hand.

We apply for filming and drone permits and work with venues, sports federations, ministries, the Royal Commission for AlUla, NEOM and the Saudi Red Sea Authority.

  1. Brief

    Your plan on one page

    Locations, dates, crew list, kit list and the script or treatment.

  2. Map

    Every approval the shoot needs

    Filming, drone and location permits, script approval, crew visas and kit, mapped out with you first.

  3. Apply

    We file and follow up

    With the media authority, civil aviation, venues, sports federations, ministries, the Royal Commission for AlUla, NEOM and the Saudi Red Sea Authority.

  4. Shoot

    Paperwork with the unit

    Permits in hand before your crew lands, so the day starts on time.

PaperworkOurs

A registered, licensed Saudi company.

Takeover Films is a production services company in Riyadh, founded in 2023 by producer Mustafa Abdelaziz.

Commercial registration
7054300764
General Authority for Media Regulation licence
153014

NotesProduction office

Questions about permits.

Do we need a permit to film in public in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Filming in a public location needs a permit from the General Authority for Media Regulation, and filming at a government site needs clearance from that entity.

Does drone filming need a separate permit?

Yes. Aerial filming needs a permit from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

Does our foreign crew need visas?

Yes. Every non-Saudi crew member needs a work visa to film in Saudi Arabia. We arrange visas for the crew you bring.

Does the script need approval?

Yes. Scripts, treatments, storyboards and series synopses are approved by the General Authority for Media Regulation.

How long do permits take?

It depends on the type of permit. Send us your dates as early as you can, and we will plan the applications backwards from your first shooting day.

Can a foreign production company apply directly?

Production companies need a commercial registration in the Kingdom, or they work with a Saudi production company. Takeover Films is a registered Saudi company licensed by the General Authority for Media Regulation.

21:00Next call

Send us your locations and dates.

We will map every approval your shoot needs and come back with a plan and a quote.

Message us on WhatsApp pr@takeoverfilms.com