Saudi-backed action thriller 7 Dogs has made cinematic history in Egypt, recording the highest-grossing opening weekend the country’s film industry has ever seen. During its debut week, the blockbuster generated EGP 131.4 million (approximately $2.7 million) at the Egyptian box office, drawing more than 912,000 moviegoers. On opening day alone, the film earned EGP 25.2 million from over 180,000 ticket sales, shattering Egypt’s single-day box office record.
Produced by Sela Studios in partnership with the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), with an estimated budget of $40 million, 7 Dogs ranks among the most expensive Arabic-language productions ever made. Moreover, Belgian-Moroccan directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, best known internationally for the Bad Boys for Life franchise, helm the film. Egyptian stars Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz lead the cast, alongside an international ensemble featuring Monica Bellucci, Salman Khan, and Sanjay Dutt.
High-Stakes Plot Across Global Locations
The story centers on Interpol officer Khalid Al-Azzazi (Ahmed Ezz), who captures Ghali Abu Dawood (Karim Abdel Aziz), a senior figure in the powerful international crime syndicate known as 7 Dogs. A year after Ghali’s arrest, the organisation resurfaces with a dangerous new drug called Pink Lady, spreading rapidly across the Middle East. Consequently, Khalid enters an uneasy partnership with his former captive, the only person with intimate knowledge of the syndicate’s inner workings. Together, they race across multiple international locations to dismantle the network and stop the drug’s spread.
Mohamed El-Dabbah wrote the screenplay, based on a story by Turki Al Al-Sheikh. The project carries backing from Riyadh Season and Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding entertainment sector, and producers have positioned it as one of the most ambitious Arabic-language films ever mounted.
Record-Breaking Stunts and Global Ambition
Beyond its commercial triumph, 7 Dogs earned two Guinness World Records during production, for the most-high explosives detonated in a single film take and the largest film stunt explosion ever captured on camera. The blast reportedly equalled the force of 170 tons of TNT, surpassing records previously held by the James Bond films Spectre and No Time to Die.
Although filmed primarily in Saudi Arabia, the production depicts Shanghai, Mumbai, and locations across Egypt. The project underscores the Kingdom’s accelerating push to establish itself as a regional and global filmmaking hub.
