Production Designers
Visionary production designers who build rich worlds. We draw on Saudi Arabia's Nabataean heritage sites, old desert forts, and bold new developments.
The production designer leads the art department. They build the full visual look of a film or TV show. In Saudi Arabia, this role spans a wide visual range. It runs from the old Nabataean tombs of Hegra in AlUla and the Diriyah At-Turaif District to Historic Jeddah's Al Balad coral-stone quarter, the Al-Ahsa Oasis, and the new NEOM and KAFD developments. Our designers turn these distinct Saudi settings into screen worlds that grab you.
We connect you with production designers. They bring deep local know-how and world-class craft to each job. We give you access to NEOM Studios, Jax Film Studios in Riyadh, and PlayMaker Studios in Qiddiya. That is over 100,000m² of stage space. Our network builds your visual world with the newest tools. We tap Saudi Arabia's 40% cash rebates too.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete Production Design Services
Our production designers build the visual worlds that bring your stories to life. We work with you from the first concept to the final wrap.
01
Visual Concept
- World-building design
- Visual language creation
- Color & texture palette
- Period research
- Style guide development
Creative Vision
02
Set Design
- Set construction plans
- Technical drawings
- Model making
- Stage layouts
- Location adaptation
Physical Design
03
Department Leadership
- Art director supervision
- Set decorator coordination
- Props department
- Construction management
- Scenic artists
Team Management
04
Budget & Schedule
- Art department budgeting
- Resource allocation
- Schedule coordination
- Vendor management
- Cost tracking
Production Control
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Production Designers
01.
Saudi Location Expertise
We know Saudi Arabia's building heritage well. It spans Hegra's Nabataean tombs and Diriyah's At-Turaif District. It runs to Historic Jeddah's coral-stone homes, the Asir highlands' painted villages, and the vast Rub' al Khali desert. Our designers know how to catch and lift Saudi locations.
02.
International Experience
Our production designers have credits on big global films and top TV shows. They know what studios and streamers want. They also handle Saudi Arabia's cultural needs and filming rules.
03.
Construction Resources
We hold ties with NEOM Studios' growing 25+ stage complex. We also work with Jax Film Studios and its Sony virtual production, plus PlayMaker Studios' 50-acre site. You get top-spec build tools in the region's fastest-growing production setup.
04.
Creative Problem Solving
We find fresh ways to lift visual impact while we watch the budget. Our designers put each dollar on screen. We also tap Saudi Arabia's generous 40% cash rebates on qualified production spend.
On Location
Saudi production design — AlUla Nabataean, Diriyah Najdi, Jeddah Al-Balad Hejazi, NEOM contemporary
Our Saudi production designers concept across the kingdom's UNESCO heritage triple. Hegra / Madain Salih (UNESCO 2008) holds Nabataean rock-cut tombs in AlUla. Diriyah Al-Turaif (UNESCO 2010) shows mud-brick Najdi Salmani build style. Historic Jeddah Al-Balad (UNESCO 2014) has Hejazi coral-stone Rawasheen window-screen homes. We also cover modern NEOM and its futurist build style — The Line, Trojena, Sindalah (opened Oct 2024), and Oxagon. We work with Riyadh CBD's glass-and-steel towers too: Kingdom Centre Tower, Al Faisaliah, and KAFD. The Asir mountain highlands add the Qatt Al-Asiri geometric mural tradition. Recent global shoots show the range. Kandahar shot in AlUla and NEOM in 2023 (Gerard Butler, $43M, dir. Ric Roman Waugh). Desert Warrior shot in AlUla in 2024 (Anthony Mackie, dir. Rupert Wyatt). Born a King (2019) sourced sets through Riyadh JAX District workshops, the Diriyah arts hub. It also used NEOM Bajdah Studios' four sound stages (9,000 m², largest in MENA, opened 2022). Pixomondo Riyadh ran the LED Volume virtual production. Saudi-resident directors brief from period references too. Haifaa al-Mansour, Mahmoud Sabbagh, and Ali Kalthami draw on the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran.
Construction lines up with the right bodies for each zone. The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) covers AlUla. The NEOM authority covers the NEOM SEZ. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) covers Riyadh. The Ministry of Culture heritage authority covers period sets. The Saudi Film Commission oversees it all. GCAM (General Commission for Audiovisual Media) handles type. Saudi Civil Defense grants permits for stunts, SFX, and pyro builds. Saudi National Day (Sept 23) and Founding Day (Feb 22) drive a heavy heritage period commercial workload. Wardrobe planning runs with costume departments. It draws on Bedouin-tribal Najdi, Hejazi, Tihama, Asiri, and Hasawi regional dress libraries. It also taps Mohammed Ashi (Ashi Studio) and Honayda Serafi atelier links. The schedule plans around five daily prayer-time pauses: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. It also notes Friday ~12:00-13:30. Ramadan brings peak production from iftar to suhoor, 9pm-2am. October-April is the ideal exterior window (15-30°C). June-September runs to a 45-50°C extreme. Crews handle GOSI sign-ups, 15% VAT, and the SAR pegged 3.75:1 to USD. Saudization Nitaqat quotas add a 5% rebates uplift on the CDF 40% rebates. There is zero personal income tax. There is no domestic film design union. Crews handle global Art Directors Guild IATSE 800 ties through Dubai EPS bureaus.
ACT 03
FAQ
Production Design Expertise
What's the difference between a production designer and art director?
The production designer leads the art department. They own the whole visual concept and work right with the director. The art director reports to the production designer. They carry out that vision. They run the build, set up the team, and handle the day-to-day work.
How do production designers work with Saudi heritage sites?
Our production designers have worked with Saudi Arabia's protected heritage sites. These include Hegra in AlUla, set up through the Royal Commission for AlUla. They also cover Diriyah At-Turaif District and Historic Jeddah. They know the multi-agency approval steps, with GCAM final sign-off.
Can you handle both studio builds and locations?
Yes. Our production designers blend studio builds with real locations across Saudi Arabia. They build at NEOM Studios, Jax Film Studios, or PlayMaker Studios. They design sets that blend with desert, mountain, and Red Sea coast sites.
What about traditional Arabian or period productions?
Our production designers know old Arabian build styles. These run from Nabataean rock-cut tombs to Najdi mud-brick forts, Hejazi coral-stone houses, and Asir painted villages. They work with local cultural advisors. They also draw on reference works that cover Saudi Arabia's rich building heritage.
Do you provide the full art department?
Yes. We can staff a full art department sized to your production. It has art directors, set decorators, prop masters, and construction coordinators. It covers all support roles too. We draw from the growing Saudi crew base and add global talent.
How do production designers work with other departments?
Production designers work close with the camera team on lighting. They work with costume on the visual palette and with VFX on digital add-ons. They work with locations on practical points too. They are the visual hub that ties all design pieces together.
Related Services
Related Creative Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
Need a Production Designer?
Tell us about your production's visual needs. We will connect you with top-tier design talent.