Data Module 071 — Cultural & Economic Intelligence
Cinema
Morocco
Ouarzawood. The world’s largest film studio in a town whose name means “without noise.” Six decades of blockbusters, from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator II.
001 — The Map
Where Morocco Becomes the World
Morocco has doubled as ancient Rome, Biblical Jerusalem, feudal Japan, modern Mogadishu, fantasy Essos, and Tolkien’s deserts. Click any location.
002 — The Filmography
Six Decades of Production
From David Lean in 1962 to Ridley Scott returning in 2024. Each bar is a production. Click a decade to explore.
These same dunes, casbahs and mountain lakes now stand in for Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter, rural Afghanistan, the Russian steppe and more.
— AramcoWorld, “Morocco’s Cinema City”
003 — Morocco Is Essos
Game of Thrones in Morocco
Prominent in Season 3. Essaouira’s ramparts became Astapor. Aït Benhaddou became Yunkai. Atlas Studios built Pentos. The unaired pilot filmed the Drogo–Daenerys wedding here — George R.R. Martin cameoed as a Pentoshi nobleman.
Essaouira
→ Astapor
Walk of Punishment, Unsullied, "Dracarys!"
Aït Benhaddou
→ Yunkai
Battle of Yunkai, "Mhysa!" crowd scene
Atlas Studios
→ Pentos / interiors
Free City, Jerusalem set reused
CLA Studios
→ Essos / Red Waste
Dothraki camp, Slaver's Bay
Tazentoute
→ Yunkai camp
Daenerys's tent negotiations
Ouarzazate
→ Pentos
Drogo–Dany wedding (unaired). GRRM cameo.
004 — Why Morocco
The Incentive Structure
Reliable weather. Desert, mountains, medinas, Atlantic coast within hours. Trained local crew. Moroccan army as extras. And since March 2022, a 30% cash rebate administered by the Centre Cinématographique Marocain (CCM).
30%
Cash rebate
Of eligible local expenses. Increased from 20% in March 2022.
$1M
Min. spend
10 million dirhams minimum qualified expenditure.
18
Min. days
Including set-building.
~80%
Moroccan crew
Of staff on foreign productions (2017).
20–50
Annual foreign productions
Shot in Ouarzazate every year.
3,000+
Army extras licence
Royal Moroccan Army available for productions.
Clear mountain air funnels down from the High Atlas. It rarely clouds over, let alone rains.
— AramcoWorld
005 — Key Numbers
The Data
31,000 m²
Atlas Studios area
Largest by land area. "Not clear where studio ends and desert begins."
5
Ridley Scott films
Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, Body of Lies, Gladiator II. Morocco's most frequent auteur.
41%
Tourism surge (2017)
Ouarzazate arrivals surged 41% Jan–Jul 2017 vs prior year. Film-induced tourism.
$75M
Infrastructure plan
MAD 820M government investment 2023–2026. Hotel reopenings adding ~1,800 beds.
1952
Orson Welles in Essaouira
Othello. Palme d'Or. Morocco's cinema pedigree predates the studios by 31 years.
80%
Local workforce
Of crew on foreign productions are Moroccan. Trained technicians, École de Cinéma de Ouarzazate.
Sources
Wikipedia — Atlas Corporation Studios: founded 1983 by Mohamed Belghmi, ~31,000 m², films list, largest by area
Wikipedia — Ouarzazate: 20–50 foreign productions/year (2020 study), ~80% Moroccan crew (2017), cinema history, name etymology
Grokipedia — Atlas Corporation Studios: 41% tourism surge 2017, $75M infrastructure plan 2023–2026, 34% airport recovery, GoT/Gladiator/Wheel of Time production details, 1,800 beds
AramcoWorld — "Morocco's Cinema City": Amine Tazi interview, Omar series, Ka'bah replica, 3,000 soldiers Kingdom of Heaven, CLA Studios, Ouarzazate Film Festival
CCM (Centre Cinématographique Marocain): 30% rebate (March 2022), $1M min spend, 18 days min, eligible expenses, VAT exemption, credits requirement
Caestus Films / Morocco Film Commission: rebate application process, SPV requirements, partnering with CCM-certified company, production timeline
Morocco World News: 20% rebate approval (2015 Finance Law), Sarim Fassi Fihri quote, historical context, competitive positioning
Game of Thrones locations: Essaouira = Astapor (S3), Aït Benhaddou = Yunkai (S3), Atlas Studios = Pentos, CLA = Essos desert, Tazentoute = camp, pilot = Drogo wedding
Laure Wanders / Tuljak / Continent Hop: Atlas Studios visitor guides, set descriptions, Hills Have Eyes gas station, tour details
Ouarzazate.city / Slate / Atlas Obscura: studio history, set preservation, David Lean 1962, "not clear where studio ends and desert begins"
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This visualization may not be reproduced without visible attribution.
Sources: CCM Morocco