HIBAPRESS
The French newspaper Le Monde highlighted a massive cinematic project expected to be completed near the capital, Rabat, called Argan Studios. It is considered the first integrated system in Morocco dedicated to the film and audiovisual industry, in a move that reflects the Kingdom's increasing bet on this strategic sector.
According to the newspaper, the project will extend over an area of approximately 80 hectares and will include filming studios with international standards, a center for training in cinematic professions, in addition to two hotels, and spaces for business and conferences, with a total investment estimated at around 70 million euros. Construction work is expected to begin during the current year, and the project will be opened gradually until the year 2030.
Le Monde considered that this workshop reflects Morocco's ambition to become a leading African hub in the field of the audiovisual industry, noting that the project is being undertaken under the supervision of one of the advisors to King Mohammed VI, which gives it a strategic dimension and significant institutional support.
The film producer Khadija El Alami, a member of the American Academy of Oscars, who has accumulated international experience between Los Angeles and Casablanca, will supervise a pivotal part of the project. El Alami will implement the project through her company K Films, where she intends to invest about 18 million euros to purchase approximately 40 hectares of land, in order to establish the first studio, which is expected to open in 2027, with the support of local bank financing covering two-thirds of the cost.
The newspaper added that the project has used the services of a team of about 12 international consultants, including Jason Hariton, the former official at Netflix platform and the former director at MBS Group, who is a strategic partner in this workshop. This team has contributed to attracting the attention of major international platforms, such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney, to film their productions inside the new studios.
The World Bank is also expected to contribute to financing the project, along with the Moroccan Deposit and Management Fund, while the advisory committee includes a British producer and French lawyers specializing in the field, according to Le Monde.
The newspaper indicated that Khadija El Alami is also the owner of Oasis Studios near Ouarzazate, which hosted the filming of the latest works of the American director Terrence Malick, recalling what Morocco is distinguished by in terms of natural diversity and flexibility in outdoor decorations, which allows the simulation of multiple geographical spaces extending from North Africa to the Middle East and Southern Europe.
The Argan Studios near Rabat will complete this offer by focusing on the interior studios and their proximity to the Rabat and Casablanca airports, which facilitates the various stages of production, from filming to post-production.
This project is expected to enable Morocco to enhance its competitiveness against prominent cinematic destinations, such as South Africa, Spain, and Malta, especially since the film productions filmed in the Kingdom during 2024 exceeded fifty works, with investments estimated at about 1.2 billion dirhams, according to data from the Moroccan Cinema Center.
