There’s a new kid on the production hub block, and its name is NEOM.
Saudi Arabia’s latest venture in the media production business puts its name right alongside giants like Hollywood, Rome, Mumbai, and London. With cutting-edge technology, diverse locations, and cash rebate incentives, NEOM is all set to become an elite production hub.
Located in the northwestern nook of the Kingdom, NEOM is a full-fledged regional production hub.
Within a mere 18 months of starting operations, NEOM has already housed 25 productions, including films, commercials, and TV shows such as “Desert Warrior”, a feature film based in the 7th century, and “Rise of the Witches”, a 10-part TV adaptation of a popular Saudi fantasy book series.
Its Media Village and Bajdah Studio make up the country’s largest production support facilities, with a daily capacity of 500 people on set.
Apart from its best-in-class production facilities, NEOM also boasts its own airport with direct flights to global production hubs like London.
Moreover, after a day of filming in lavish sets, the cast and crew will no longer spend the night in a trailer, for a resort-style, specially-designed hotel awaits them at NEOM.
NEOM is built on a sustainable, human-friendly, and environment-friendly model, making it an even more attractive choice.
“NEOM” has been derived from the Greek word “neo” meaning new and an abbreviation of the Arabic word “mustaqbal” meaning future, heralding a new, exciting future for the production industry in Saudi Arabia.
With an excellent legal system, project-friendly regulations, and ample attractive offers, producers, and directors will soon find it hard to say no to filming in NEOM.
According to Wayne Borg, managing director of media industries, entertainment, and culture, NEOM is likely to develop thought leadership in the media industry, raising the bar for its competitors to new heights. It will become a “focal point for the region’s media industries,” creating, encouraging, and facilitating collaborative opportunities in the Middle East.
The stunning Middle Eastern landscapes and architecture are also a compelling reason for producers all over the world to come to NEOM.
Producer Eric Hedayat, for instance, could see the hub’s potential to be the backdrop for “Desert Warrior” even before the construction was complete, thanks to the red sands, monumental rocks, deserts, and dunes.
The producer of “Rise of the Witches”, Dominic Barlow, has also praised the “plug and play” amenities of NEOM for their striking ability to work alongside crew according to the production schedules and erect sets in no time.
This was also the reason a 10-part show was able to complete the entire filming within an exceedingly short span of 6 months.
NEOM performs just as well on the financial front of production. With 40% plus in cash rebates, not tax offsets, it offers one of the most competitive incentives in the business. This means that shooting in NEOM is not creatively appealing but commercially beneficial too.
All this might seem to be too good to be true, but it is indeed a world of dreams that beckons producers to NEOM!