Morocco plans film city near Rabat to attract international productions

Morocco is set to build a massive new film city, provisionally named Argan Studios, on the outskirts of its capital, Rabat, according to Le Monde.

The project, led by Moroccan producer Khadija Alami, aims to create the country’s first fully integrated ecosystem for cinema.

The site, located between Rabat and Casablanca, will cover around 80 hectares and include giant studios, a film industry training campus, two hotels, and business and conference centers.

The investment is estimated at nearly €70 million, with construction expected to start this year and the first studio set to open in 2027. The project’s inauguration is planned for 2030.

About 40 hectares of the land will be acquired from the Moroccan government, with K Films, Alami’s production company, spending roughly €18 million, two-thirds of which will come from a Moroccan bank loan.

Streaming giants including Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney have already expressed interest in shooting at the provisionally named Argan Studios.

According to Le Monde sources, the involvement of MBS, a US studio operator linked to Hackman Capital Partners, was key in attracting these platforms.

The World Bank may also help fund part of the project, alongside Moroccan institutions like the Deposit and Management Fund.

Alami, who splits her time between Los Angeles and Casablanca and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is known for bringing Hollywood experience to Morocco.

She previously built Oasis Studios near Ouarzazate, where films like Terrence Malick’s The Way of the Wind were shot. While those studios focus on outdoor locations, the new project will primarily feature indoor facilities, offering a full production chain from filming to postproduction.

Argan Studios also promises better access than Ouarzazate, being just 30 minutes from Rabat and Casablanca airports.

The project’s backers say it could position Morocco as a leading hub for international film production, competing with countries like South Africa, Spain, and Malta.