Report and Pictures from the Set of '7 Dogs': A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah's $40M Middle East Thriller and Saudi Arabia's Most Ambitious Production Yet - Red Sea

Belgian-Moroccan directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, known for their blockbuster successes such as Bad Boys For Life and Belgiums Gangsta, are pushing cinematic boundaries again with their upcoming action thriller 7 Dogs, filmed in Saudi Arabia.

This production has already made headlines for setting Guinness World Records during its desert shoot near Riyadh. The film achieved the largest stunt explosion in cinema history and the most explosives detonated in a single film take, surpassing records previously held by No Time To Die and Spectre. The stunts, managed by explosives expert Duncan Capp and IFX International Special Effects LLC, involved 170.7 tonnes and 405.85 kg of TNT equivalent, respectively.

With a reported budget of $40 million, potentially nearing $70 million, 7 Dogs represents one of Saudi Arabias most ambitious homegrown productions since the 2017 cinema reopening. The international ensemble cast includes Egyptian stars Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz, Italian actress Monica Bellucci, Bollywood icons Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, as well as Max Huang, Tara Emad, and Sandy Bella. The story follows Aziz and Ezz as adversaries forced to collaborate to stop the spread of a powerful new drug across the Middle East.

The film is based on an original concept by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabias General Entertainment Authority, and is produced by Selas film division with sponsorship from GEA and Riyadh Season. Post-production is being handled by Los Angeles VFX powerhouse Company 3. Executive producers include Alalshikh, Abdulelah Alqurashi, and Adnan A. Kayal, with Ivan Atkinson and Cyrus Patel also producing.

Filming took place at the Al Athriya palace north of Riyadhs King Khalid International Airport, a location reconstructed in traditional Najdi style, complete with a castle, courtyard, and a replica of a classic village. The production team, featuring crews from Saudi Arabia, the UK, US, Spain, Belgium, Jordan, and Palestine, has been praised for its professionalism and enthusiasm, with local talent gaining significant international experience.

El Arbi and Fallah first connected with Alalshikh at the Saudi premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which became the countrys highest-grossing film. Attracted to the chance to make a large-scale film fully set in the Middle East, they brought along their longtime cinematographer Robrecht Heyvaert and other experienced crew members. Heads of departments include production designer Paul Kirby, costume designers Beatrice Giannini and Mark Bouman, and hair & makeup designer Jacqueline Russon, alongside stunt experts 87Eleven led by Stephen Dunlevy.

The films action sequences were shot across Riyadh and nearby areas, with cityscapes doubling for Mumbai and Shanghai. Key interiors were filmed at Al-Hisn Big Time Studios, a state-of-the-art facility co-developed by ARRI and Sela, featuring massive LED panels, indoor water tanks, and versatile studio spaces. Elaborate sets included an upside-down airplane fuselage and a Shanghai penthouse constructed over a water tank for high-intensity action scenes.

Producer Ivan Atkinson described the project as a serious international production rather than a vanity film. The script, developed by Mohamed el-Dabah, was carefully adapted to align with regional storytelling sensibilities while maintaining global appeal. The film aims to showcase Saudi Arabia as a viable hub for international filmmaking, balancing ambitious action with a manageable budget to ensure broad audience accessibility.

7 Dogs is slated for release in Saudi Arabia in 2026, coinciding with the Red Sea Film Festival. While a sequel is not currently planned, the filmmakers emphasize their main goal is to deliver a memorable, high-quality movie that resonates with both local and global audiences.

Author: Logan Reeves