Saudi thriller '7 Dogs' sets record as Arab cinema’s biggest-ever production

Cairo: A Saudi thriller titled “7 Dogs” has wrapped filming in Riyadh, marking the largest-budget production in Arab cinema history, according to a top Saudi official.

The $40 million film was shot entirely at Al Hassan Studios under the Big Time Fund in the Saudi capital. It stars Egyptian cinema heavyweights Kareem Abdulaziz and Ahmed Ezz, alongside Saudi acting legend Nasser Al Gassabi. Internationally acclaimed actors also appear in the film.

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the thriller is based on a story by Turki Al Al Sheikh — Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) — with a screenplay by Mohamed El Dabbah. Al Alsheikh shared details on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the film's ambition to elevate national cinema to a global level.

The production included 175 Saudi crew members and saw participation from elite Saudi security forces, adding authenticity to the action-packed narrative.

Though Al Alsheikh did not reveal the budget himself, reports place it at an unprecedented $40 million — solidifying the film’s status as a milestone for Saudi and Arab filmmaking. 7 Dogs is expected to release later this year.

The film comes on the heels of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to support Arab cinema.

Last year, the kingdom announced plans to launch an investment fund to boost production, distribution, and content creation across the Arab world through initiatives like the Big Time Fund.