Rolling Now
ENFRع
Log inJoin freeBack to app
FestivalsFundsIndustryIncentivesTemplatesAI StudioCalendarJobsCompaniesCrewDCP
ENFRع
Home › Filming locations: Arab world & key hubs

Filming locations: Arab world & key hubs

Locations from official film-commission libraries, with the permit route for each country. Every entry links to its source.

Wadi RumSouth of Petra, north of Aqaba · Jordan320 km south-west of Amman, 120 km south of Petra and 68 km north of Aqaba; declared a protected area in 1998. Local Bedouin tribes support …Desert
PetraMa’an Governorate · JordanListed by the Royal Film Commission with its own approval track: 5 working days.Heritage
Ajloun CastleAjloun · JordanAlso known as Qal’at Ar-Rabad; towers above the green hills of Ajloun.Heritage
Ajloun Forest ReserveAjloun highlands · Jordan13 km² in the highlands north of Amman, dominated by open woodland of evergreen oak, pine and carob.Nature
Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas)Dead Sea / Jordan River · JordanWorld Heritage archaeological site on the east bank of the Jordan River. Border area: 14 working days for approval.Heritage
Safawi Old Military CampEastern Jordan · JordanBuilt in 1930 in British style using black stone.City & architecture
Liwa Desert (Empty Quarter)Abu Dhabi · United Arab EmiratesUsed for Dune, Dune: Part Two and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, with Abu Dhabi Film Commission support for permits and logi…Desert
Abu Dhabi Midfield TerminalAbu Dhabi · United Arab EmiratesKey scenes of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One were shot here, including on the terminal roof; ADFC secured the approvals.City & architecture
Abu Dhabi location libraryAbu Dhabi · United Arab EmiratesOfficial library by category: modern architecture, city, coastlines, Middle Eastern, desert, nature, mountains.Official location library
Dubai Location LookbookDubai · United Arab EmiratesOfficial directory of production-ready sites in Dubai, by category.Official location library
HegraAlUla · Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with monumental tombs; a high-sensitivity zone in Film AlUla’s guidelines.Heritage
AlUla Old TownAlUla · Saudi ArabiaTraditional mudbrick town; listed in the Film AlUla location guide (high sensitivity).Heritage
Elephant RockAlUla · Saudi ArabiaRock formation in the Film AlUla location guide (medium sensitivity).Nature
Sharaan Nature ReserveAlUla · Saudi ArabiaDramatic rock formations; high-sensitivity zone in Film AlUla’s guidelines.Nature
Hijaz Railway (AlUla)AlUla · Saudi ArabiaListed in the Film AlUla location guide.Heritage
Naqa KhuraimRiyadh · Saudi ArabiaListed in the Saudi Film Commission location scouting list.Nature
Dharak ValleyAl Bahah · Saudi ArabiaValley and lake listed in the Saudi Film Commission location scouting list.Nature
Khairah ForestAl Bahah · Saudi ArabiaForest and its fort, listed in the Saudi Film Commission location scouting list.Nature
CLA Studios setsOuarzazate · MoroccoJerusalem, kasbah and Ben-Hur boat sets on a 150+ hectare backlot near Aït Ben Haddou and Fint Oasis.Studio & backlot
Atlas StudiosOuarzazate (Km 5, Marrakech road) · MoroccoFilm studio at Km 5 of the Marrakech road in Tamassinte, Ouarzazate.Studio & backlot
Ouarzazate regionDrâa-Tafilalet · MoroccoMountains, valleys, oases and desert in one region; the Ouarzazate Film Commission (est. 2008) facilitates shoots.Desert
Qatar Museums sitesDoha and across Qatar · QatarAny location controlled by Qatar Museums needs a filming request at least two weeks ahead; commercial shoots may be charged a fee.Heritage
EFC location libraryAcross Egypt · EgyptEgypt Film Commission’s location pages: Cairo, Mediterranean cities, Upper Egypt, archaeological sites, deserts and oases, Sinai and the Red…Official location library
Mos Espa setNear Tozeur · TunisiaStar Wars set still standing in the desert near Tozeur, with the pod-race arena and sandstone columns nearby.Desert
Chott El JeridTozeur / Kebili · TunisiaDry salt lake flats where Luke Skywalker’s home stands (Star Wars Episodes II and III).Desert
Hotel Sidi Driss, MatmataMatmata · TunisiaUnderground home used for Star Wars interior scenes.Heritage
Ribat of MonastirMonastir · TunisiaSeen in many films, including Life of Brian and Jesus of Nazareth.Heritage
Medina of KairouanKairouan · TunisiaStood in for 1930s Cairo in Raiders of the Lost Ark.City & architecture
Bahrain location libraryKingdom of Bahrain · BahrainBahrain Film Commission’s searchable library of desert, city and beach locations.Official location library
Kurdistan Film Commission locationsKurdistan Region of Iraq · Iraq – Kurdistan RegionLocation research, scouting support and facilitated access; the Commission keeps a location database.Official location library
Filming permit – OmanSultanate of Oman · OmanMinistry of Information filming permit (Gov.om e-service): lets a media team film in public places; listed processing time 10 days, no fee.Official permit office
Filming authorisation – AlgeriaAlgeriaMinistry of Culture: filming authorisation form (application, synopsis/script, technical sheet and company registration).Official permit office
Production licences – PalestinePalestineMinistry of Culture licence forms (production licensing).Official permit office
Filming permit – MauritaniaMauritaniaOfficial administrative procedure for a filming permit (government procedures portal).Official permit office
Filming permit – TürkiyeTürkiyeMinistry of Culture and Tourism, Directorate General of Cinema: filming permit for foreign productions.Official permit office
Cyprus location libraryLimassol, Paphos, Larnaca, Nicosia, Famagusta · CyprusOfficial Film in Cyprus location library (Invest Cyprus).Official location library
Konnos BayFamagusta · CyprusListed in the official location library of Film in Cyprus.Nature
Ancient OdeonPaphos · CyprusListed in the official location library of Film in Cyprus.Heritage
Limassol MarinaLimassol · CyprusListed in the official location library of Film in Cyprus.City & architecture
Kourion Archaeological SiteLimassol district · CyprusListed in the official location library of Film in Cyprus.Heritage
Malta & Gozo locationsMalta & Gozo · MaltaThe Malta Film Commission co-ordinates location enquiries around Malta & Gozo; Fort Rinella (Kalkara) is among the listed locations.Official location library
Spain locations searchSpainSpain Film Commission’s official search: by description, map, category or visual similarity.Official location library
Greece locations archiveGreeceHellenic Film Commission locations archive, by category and region.Official location library
NFI Location OfficeHungaryNational Film Institute Location Office: coordinates filming permits for public areas and state-owned properties.Official permit office
Cape Town public locationsCape Town · South AfricaCity of Cape Town Film Permit Office: register, then apply for film permits and book public locations online.Official permit office
The Dark HedgesCounty Antrim, Northern Ireland · United KingdomListed in the official location library of the British Film Commission.Nature
The Giant’s CausewayCounty Antrim, Northern Ireland · United KingdomListed in the official location library of the British Film Commission.Nature
Caernarfon CastleWales · United KingdomListed in the official location library of the British Film Commission.Heritage
Isle of SkyeScotland · United KingdomListed in the official location library of the British Film Commission.Nature
Old Royal Naval CollegeLondon · United KingdomListed in the official location library of the British Film Commission.Heritage
Tower of LondonLondon · United KingdomListed in the official location library of the British Film Commission.Heritage

Checked on 22 October 2026. Information comes from the linked official pages and company websites. Check rules and availability with them before you shoot.