Saudi Arabia’s “The Prince” Wraps Filming, Signals Kingdom’s Entertainment Ambitions

The big picture: Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman Turki Alalshikh officially announced the end of principal photography for the spy series The Prince (Al-Amir) this week. Furthermore, Alalshikh celebrated the final production day across his Instagram and Facebook accounts. He shared behind-the-scenes video clips and a crew photograph. The photo featured lead Egyptian actor Ahmed Ezz alongside British director Stephen Hopkins.

In addition, Alalshikh praised the production team for their exceptional dedication. He described the six-episode series as “a milestone in the history of Arabic content.” Moreover, he promised regional audiences a landmark drama, stating: “Wait for us… what is coming is even more beautiful.”

Why it matters: Saudi Arabia keeps expanding its entertainment footprint well beyond sports. “The Prince” joins a string of ambitious GEA-backed productions. Together, they signal that Riyadh wants to compete with Hollywood and Turkish studios for regional and global audiences.

What they’re saying: Alalshikh called “The Prince” a different kind of project. He described it as “a mark in the history of Arab content” and told fans: “Wait for us… what’s coming is more beautiful.” He thanked Ahmed Ezz, the cast, the crew and Hopkins for their work throughout production. Lead actor Ezz expressed deep respect for director Stephen Hopkins on set. Specifically, Ezz praised Hopkins in English during a behind-the-scenes video. Ezz stated: “This man is great, and I hope to work with him again many times. Without him, this series would not have happened.”

Meanwhile, prominent screenwriter Salah El-Gheiny wrote the compelling screenplay for the thriller. Concurrently, entertainment powerhouses Sela Studios and MBC Shahid produced the project under direct GEA sponsorship.

The Plot

The compelling storyline blends high-stakes espionage, action, and deep family relationships. Specifically, the plot follows an Egyptian security officer living a dangerous double life. The officer infiltrates an international terrorist cell by adopting the identity of a globally wanted criminal. However, his secret operation collapses unexpectedly. Consequently, he races against time to prevent a catastrophic attack while navigating complex betrayals and conflicting interests.

The series blends action and suspense with a human core built around family ties. Overall, it aims for a cinematic, globally competitive look.

Principal filming began in April across prominent international sites. Filming crews shot extensive scenes on location in Cairo and within modern soundstages at Al-Hisn Big Time Studios in Riyadh. These advanced Riyadh facilities provide world-class production infrastructure and cutting-edge media technology. Moreover, these state-of-the-art soundstages offer world-class post-production suites and specialized visual effects capabilities.

Furthermore, the show features a remarkable international ensemble cast. Egyptian stars Ahmed Ezz, Amina Khalil, and Samy El-Sheikh head the cast. Turkish actresses Tuba Büyüküstün and Meryem Uzerli also feature prominently in major roles. Additionally, Spanish actor Pedro Alonso and British star Paul Anderson of Peaky Blinders join the global lineup. Streaming platform MBC Shahid will broadcast the series exclusively in 2027 with English subtitles.

Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Vision for Global Entertainment

The completion of The Prince (Al-Amir) highlights Saudi Arabia’s rapid emergence as a global entertainment powerhouse. Under Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom actively finances ambitious cinematic productions and expands regional creative infrastructure. Consequently, the Kingdom attracts substantial international media investments and fosters long-term artistic partnerships worldwide. Therefore, top international directors and Hollywood stars increasingly select Saudi Arabia for major film projects.

Furthermore, the Kingdom routinely backs monumental cinematic projects across international markets. For instance, Saudi entities funded the epic action movie Desert Warrior, starring Anthony Mackie and Sir Ben Kingsley. Similarly, Saudi organizations spearheaded the high-budget action feature 7 Dogs, starring Ahmed Ezz, Karim Abdel Aziz, and Monica Bellucci. Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directed 7 Dogs with a record budget of SAR 150 million ($40 million). As a result, these high-profile ventures transfer vital technical skills to local Saudi talent. Local writers, technicians, and crew members gain invaluable hands-on experience alongside international masters, building a sustainable national media ecosystem.

By the numbers:

• SAR 150 million ($40 million): Production budget for the Saudi action epic Seven Dogs, marking the highest budget in Arabic film history.
• SAR 375 million ($100 million): Total capital committed through the Big Time Investment Fund to back premium Arabic film and television content.
• SAR 1.5 billion ($400 million): Total infrastructure investment dedicated to constructing state-of-the-art production facilities like Al Hosn Big Time Studios in Riyadh.
• 7 international stars: Leading actors from Egypt, Turkey, Spain, and the United Kingdom headline the cast of The Prince (Al-Amir).
• 2 production capitals: Authentic locations in Cairo and advanced facilities in Riyadh hosted the principal photography for the series.
• 2027 premiere: MBC Shahid will stream The Prince (Al-Amir) exclusively to global digital audiences with English subtitles.
• GEA launched in 2016 with a SAR 7.5 billion ($2 billion) initial mandate. It has since issued more than 12,600 entertainment licenses.
• Riyadh Season’s brand value now sits near SAR 12 billion ($3.2 billion), up sharply since its 2019 launch.
• The 2025-2026 Riyadh Season edition alone carries roughly SAR 22 billion ($5.9 billion) in investment. It targets SAR 24 billion ($6.4 billion) in economic impact.
• Entertainment events drew 45.7 million visitors in just the first half of 2026.
• “The Seven Dogs,” another GEA-backed thriller starring Ezz and Karim Abdel Aziz, cost more than SAR 150 million ($40 million). That makes it the priciest Arabic-language film to date.

Zoom out: These productions fit a bigger pattern. Saudi Arabia keeps pouring money into cinema, television and live events as part of Vision 2030’s push to diversify the economy beyond oil. “The Seven Dogs” became a regional box-office hit. It pushed Arabic-language cinema toward Hollywood-scale budgets. Meanwhile, “Desert Warrior” shows that global crossover ambitions carry real financial risk.

“The Prince” tries to split the difference. It pairs an Arabic-led thriller with international stars. It shoots partly in Riyadh, and it targets both regional and global streaming audiences through Shahid.

What’s next: Audiences get their first look at “The Prince” sometime in 2027. Its reception will offer another test of whether Saudi Arabia’s entertainment strategy delivers content people actually want to watch, not just across the Gulf, but worldwide.