SCENE 01 / LOCATION SCOUTING SERVICES
Location Scouting Services
Find perfect filming locations across Saudi Arabia—from Riyadh to Jeddah and beyond.
Finding the right location can make or break a production. That's why we've built a team of skilled scouts who know Saudi Arabia inside and out—from the modern skyline of Riyadh to the ancient Nabataean tombs of AlUla. We handle everything: site research, logistics assessments, permit forms. You tell us what you're looking for, and we'll find it.
Here is how this works in practice. Over the years, we've put as one a database of more than 5,000 locations across the Kingdom. But we don't just hand you a list and wish you luck. Our scouts hit the ground to check each site meets your specific needs, whether that's the UNESCO-listed Hegra ruins for an epic historical production or the futuristic NEOM developments for a sci-fi commercial.
Here is the short of it. What really sets us apart is our network. We've spent years building relationships with property owners, government authorities, the Saudi Film Commission (SFC), and the Royal Commission for AlUla. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has opened the country to global shoots—and we've been here from the start of that transformation.
Our Location Scouting Services
Finding the right location can make or break a production. That's why we've built a team of skilled scouts who know Saudi Arabia inside and out—from the modern skyline of Riyadh to the ancient Nabataean tombs of AlUla. We handle everything: site research, logistics assessments, permit forms. You tell us what you're looking for, and we'll find it.
Here is how this works in practice. Over the years, we've put as one a database of more than 5,000 locations across the Kingdom. But we don't just hand you a list and wish you luck. Our scouts hit the ground to check each site meets your specific needs, whether that's the UNESCO-listed Hegra ruins for an epic historical production or the futuristic NEOM developments for a sci-fi commercial.
Here is the short of it. What really sets us apart is our network. We've spent years building relationships with property owners, government authorities, the Saudi Film Commission (SFC), and the Royal Commission for AlUla. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has opened the country to global shoots—and we've been here from the start of that transformation.
Comprehensive Location Scouting Solutions
Expert location scouts with intimate knowledge of Saudi Arabia's diverse landscapes, urban environments, and cultural sites. Professional location services from initial scouting to production support with permits and logistics coordination.
Urban Locations
- • Modern cityscapes
- • Historic districts
- • Commercial areas
- • Residential neighborhoods
- • Industrial zones
Natural Landscapes
- • Coastal beaches
- • Mountain regions
- • Vineyard settings
- • Forest locations
- • River systems
Cultural Sites
- • Historic chateaux
- • Medieval architecture
- • Traditional villages
- • Museums
- • Heritage locations
Production Facilities
- • Studio spaces
- • Controlled environments
- • Green screen facilities
- • Equipment storage
- • Crew facilities
How We Work With You
Here's how we typically work with productions. You tell us what you're looking for, we go find it, and we handle all the headaches in between—permits, negotiations, logistics. By the time you show up to shoot, everything's ready.
Requirements Analysis
First things first—we sit down with you to know exactly what you're after. We'll go through your script, look at reference images, talk about budget constraints, and nail down the visual style you're going for. No detail is too small at this stage.
Research & Reconnaissance
Here is what we have to work with. Our scouts will start their work after we determine what you need. Our team retrieves site options from the database followed by actual inspections at each location. Our team takes photos of each location from different perspectives while we record all key operational details including power availability and parking spaces and site-level conditions and daylight patterns.
Presentation & Selection
We put as one a detailed presentation for each shortlisted location. You'll get pro photos, logistical breakdowns, rough costs, and info on what permits we'll need. Most clients find exactly what they want within the first round of options.
Coordination & Securing
Once you've made your choice, we handle the rest. We negotiate fees with property owners, set up access schedules, manage contracts, and secure all needed permits. By the time your crew arrives, everything's sorted and ready to go.
You'll have a single point of contact throughout—someone who knows your project and can give you straight answers when things change. And things always change.
What We Bring to the Table
Years of boots-on-the-ground experience across Saudi Arabia, a database we've built from scratch, and the kind of local connections that take time to develop.
Our Resources
5,000+ Locations On File
We've been building this database for years. Every entry has photos, GPS coordinates, notes on access and power, and info on what time of year works best. It's not just a list—it's institutional knowledge.
On-Site Technical Surveys
Before we recommend anywhere, we check it ourselves. Power capacity, truck access, parking situation, ambient noise—the stuff that matters when you're actually trying to shoot there.
Permit Handling
Saudi bureaucracy can be... Saudi. We deal with the permit applications, the property releases, the back-and-forth with local officials. You shouldn't have to.
Scouting Statistics
Why Choose Fixers in Saudi Arabia for Location Scouting
Local Expertise
Our scouts developed their lives within this location. The locals possess knowledge about all the rural paths which lead to secret gardens and concealed towns that most visitors fail to find. Our local knowledge enables us to give locations which you cannot find elsewhere.'t see in any other production's portfolio.
Complete Documentation
Each location report we deliver is thorough enough to hand directly to your line producer. The document has tech specs as one with permit needs and access routes and info about nearby facilities.'s all there, organized and ready to use.
Rapid Response
At times plans change at the last minute. We get it. That's why we give 48-hour turnaround on location reports and emergency scouting services when you need to pivot fast during production.
Cultural Heritage Access
Here is the layout. Getting permission to film at UNESCO sites, historic chateaux, or national monuments isn't easy—but we've done it dozens of times. We know the application process, the right contacts, and how to present your project in a way that gets approvals.
On Location
Saudi location scouting covers AlUla / Hegra Nabataean tombs, NEOM coastal flats and Sindalah island, Riyadh modern CBD, Diriyah heritage, Edge of the World cliffs, Empty Quarter dunes, Asir highland villages, Red Sea coast and Farasan Islands — across mainland Saudi Film Commission, Film AlUla / RCU, and NEOM authority jurisdictions
Saudi scouting deploys against a visual range that's wider than any other MENA country. It is arguably one of the deepest in the world relative to film-production usage to date.
Here is how this works in practice. Our scouts cover AlUla in depth. Sites have Hegra (Madain Salih) Nabataean tombs (UNESCO 2008), a visual cousin to Petra in Jordan. Other sites have Elephant Rock, the Maraya mirrored concert hall, Dadan and Ikmah pre-Islamic sites, and the AlUla Old Town mud-brick build style.
Here is the short of it. Other UNESCO heritage sites round out the heritage coverage. Diriyah Al-Turaif (UNESCO 2010) is the birthplace of the first Saudi state and a mud-brick palace district. Historic Jeddah Al-Balad (UNESCO 2014) is the Hejazi rawashin wooden-lattice port build style.
Urban and natural locations cover the today's range. Riyadh CBD brings Kingdom Centre Tower, Al Faisaliah, and the King Abdullah Financial District. The Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali) is the largest sand desert in the world, scaling beyond anything in Wadi Rum Jordan or the Sahara. The Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) is a 90+ minute drive from Riyadh, with a sheer cliff drop into desert.
Here is the breakdown. Other natural locations bring different climates. The Asir Mountains and Abha highlands have 5-10°C winter nights — a cool-weather alternative to summer lowlands. The Red Sea coast and Farasan Islands bring coral reef, dolphin populations, and classic fishing villages. NEOM coastal flats and Sindalah luxury island round out the today's coverage.
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Scouting passes carry separate clearance and access workflows by jurisdiction. AlUla scouting goes through Film AlUla under the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU). RCU controls access to Hegra UNESCO sites, manages 4x4 unit moves, and grants drone clearance separate from GACA's mainland certification.
Here is how the picture comes as one. NEOM scouting is internal to the NEOM authority. NDAs cover The Line corridor, Trojena, and Bajdah Studios. Mainland Kingdom scouting under the Saudi Film Commission needs Ministry of Culture planning for any UNESCO site work. Saudi Geological Survey planning covers the Empty Quarter and covered desert zones.
Here is what we have to work with. Drone scouting is GACA-licensed. Separate airspace sign-off apply for AlUla, NEOM, and the Mecca off-limits zone. Our scouts time passes to October-April (mild 15-30°C daytime, the ideal shoot window). We avoid sandstorm (haboob) season in March-May for clear-sky reference. We brief shoots on prayer-time access for religious-adjacent sites — though the Two Holy Mosques (Mecca and Medina) are off-limits to non-Muslims and not scoutable.
FAQ
Location Scouting FAQ
Essential information for planning your location scouting project in Saudi Arabia.
How long does location scouting take in Saudi Arabia?
It really depends on what you're looking for. A straightforward commercial shoot? We can mostly turn around options in 2-3 days. Feature films mostly need 1-2 weeks of dedicated scouting to cover all the scenes. Documentaries fall somewhere in between—mostly 3-7 days. And if you're in a bind, we give emergency scouting with 24-48 hour delivery.
What permits are required for filming at Saudi locations?
The specific permit needs depend on your shoot sites location and its dimensions. Local authorities need all public areas to obtain permission for filming through a filming permit. The owners of private sites need to give release forms for their sites. Historical monuments and UNESCO sites have their own application process through cultural affairs offices. We handle all of this for you—it's one of the main reasons shoots hire us.
What are typical location scouting costs in Saudi Arabia?
The cost for basic day-rate scouting operations ranges between $300 and $500 for each day of operation. The firm gives full packages which combine service for many sites as one with records support and permit management help.'re looking at $1,500-$6,000 based on scope. Remote locations add to the cost—figure $800-$2,500 per day for mountain or rural scouting. Permit fees themselves range from $150 to $1,500 based on the site.
Can you scout locations in remote areas of Saudi Arabia?
Here is the breakdown. We have several preferred destinations which exist outside of typical tourist areas. We often scout in the Asir Mountains, along the Hejaz coast, in rural Asir Region, and across the Asir Mountains. Our team performs accessibility reviews for distant production locations while we handle gear movement and find suitable housing for crew members working in the area.
How many location options will we receive?
Here is what that looks like on the ground. For each scene or setup you need, we mostly present 3-5 vetted options. These aren't just random suggestions—each location we show you has been checked for logistics, permit availability, and budget fit. We'd rather give you fewer, better options than overwhelm you with places that won't actually work.
What documentation do you provide for each location?
Here is how the picture comes together. The location packages contain many high-resolution photos taken from different perspectives as one with tech survey data about power infrastructure and access points and facility details and logistics info which has parking details and service locations and site restrictions. The system gives site maps as one with shooting position recommendations which depend on lighting conditions for all complex locations.
Related Services
Productions in Saudi Arabia that need this often pair it with Local Fixer Services, Production Budgeting Services, and Production Scheduling Services for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Pre-Production Services and Travel Coordinator.
On Set
Ready to Discover Perfect Locations?
Let's find the backdrop your project deserves. Get in touch and tell us what you're looking for—we'll take it from there.