A late 2025 theatrical release is planned for the film, which is produced by Sela, the company owned by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund.
Riyadh has become the backdrop for a historic moment in Arab cinema with the completion of filming for Seven Dogs, a Saudi thriller now recognised as the most expensive production in the region’s history, according to a top Saudi official.
Shot entirely at Al Hassan Studios under the Big Time Fund, the $40m project brings together Egyptian superstars Kareem Abdulaziz and Ahmed Ezz, along with Saudi acting icon Nasser Al Gassabi and several internationally renowned actors.
The project is backed by Jeddah-based entertainment company Sela, with The Gentlemen and Wrath of Man producer Ivan Atkinson leading production. The original story comes from Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, a key figure in the country’s entertainment and sports expansion.
Directed by the acclaimed duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Seven Dogs follows Interpol officer Khalid Al-Azzazi (Ezz) as he captures Ghali Abu Dawood (Aziz), a high-ranking member of the shadowy global crime syndicate known as 7 Dogs. A year after his arrest, the organisation resurfaces, distributing a powerful new drug called Pink Lady across the Middle East. With time running out, Khalid must form an uneasy alliance with Ghali, the only person with inside knowledge of the syndicate’s operations. Their reluctant partnership sets them on a thrilling mission spanning multiple international cities as they attempt to dismantle the criminal empire and prevent the deadly drug from spreading.
Though Al Sheikh did not confirm the budget himself, industry reports cite the production cost at a record-breaking $40m. The film is slated for release later this year and is seen as a major leap forward in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious efforts to elevate Arab cinema. This project follows the Kingdom’s recent launch of an investment fund aimed at boosting film production, distribution and content creation across the Arab world.
