Morocco Launches Construction of the International Cinema City in Ouarzazate with a 240 Million Dirham Investment
Title: International Film City Construction Begins in Ouarzazate
On Friday, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, inaugurated the construction of the International Film City in Ouarzazate. This site visit also provided an opportunity to review the progress of restoration and rehabilitation projects at several heritage sites in the province.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at solidifying Ouarzazate’s status as a national and international hub for the film and audiovisual industry. The goal is to develop a modern ecosystem that attracts more domestic and foreign productions.
The future International Film City will cover an area of 10.49 hectares, with a total investment estimated at 240 million dirhams. It will operate under a "one-stop shop" management model, designed to provide industry professionals with a range of integrated services.
The project will feature five main sectors encompassing the entire film production chain, including a production hub equipped with a 3,000 m² filming studio, spaces dedicated to post-production, archiving, training, innovation, and creative technologies, as well as a sector focused on hospitality, services, and film tourism.
During the event, Minister Bensaid emphasized that this new infrastructure will complement the capabilities already developed by private operators through Ouarzazate’s studios, rather than competing with them. The objective is to enhance the national offering and increase Morocco’s appeal for major international productions.
The minister also stressed the importance of developing post-production activities in Morocco to prevent international productions from having to finalize this phase abroad, thereby boosting Ouarzazate’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Accompanied by the governor of the Ouarzazate province, Abdellah Jahid, the minister also visited the Kasbah of Taourirt and the Aït Ben Haddou Ksar to assess the progress of restoration efforts following the Al Haouz earthquake.
He noted that the restoration work at the Aït Ben Haddou Ksar, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, is currently 80% to 85% complete, with expected completion in about four months. This will be followed by a new phase aimed at enhancing the site’s cultural and tourist appeal.
In conclusion, the minister reiterated that these projects not only aim to preserve Moroccan architectural heritage but also to promote its cultural and historical value, while solidifying Ouarzazate’s position as an international destination that seamlessly integrates film, heritage, and cultural tourism.
