An agreement formalised at MIPCOM Cannes moves studio know-how between the two partners while strengthening production cooperation across borders. The opening phase of Shams Production Hub, set to start in Q1 2027, will be built around five purpose-built sound stages.
CANNES, France: A strategic partnership backing the creation of Shams Production Hub in Sharjah, UAE, has been formalised at MIPCOM Cannes by Sharjah Media City (Shams), a leading UAE freezone authority, and Origo Studios, one of Hungary’s leading film studio complexes.
Under the agreement, the Shams team will be readied to operate the facility to international standards through a three-phase training and knowledge-transfer programme delivered by Origo Studios. The training combines online sessions with hands-on learning at Origo Studios in Budapest and on-site guidance in Sharjah.
The programme covers studio operations, art department management, post-production, business development and sales, finance and production incentives, backlot operations, technical infrastructure, governance, and sustainable production practices.
At the centre of Shams Production Hub will be five purpose-built sound stages, each of roughly 1,710 square metres. Commencement of the first phase is scheduled for Q1 2027.
Expanding commercial links between Hungary and Sharjah also underpin the tie-up. Across Shams, 67 companies are currently registered by Hungarian businesses and investors, 31 of them with media-related activities.
Director General of Shams, H.E. Rashid Abdalla Al Obad, commented: “Our vision for the Shams Production Hub goes beyond developing world-class production infrastructure. We want to build the expertise, operational capabilities and industry relationships needed to support productions at every stage of their lifecycle. Our partnership with Origo Studios enables our team to learn from an established European studio environment and bring that knowledge to Sharjah, while strengthening connections between the UAE and international production markets. It reflects our commitment to developing a sustainable, globally connected media and creative ecosystem that creates opportunities for talent and businesses.”
CEO of Origo Studios, Dr. Márta Fekszi Horváth, commented: “We are pleased to partner with Sharjah Media City at an important stage in the development of the Shams Production Hub. Building a successful production ecosystem requires more than world-class facilities; it requires strong operational expertise, practical experience and a deep understanding of the production industry. Through this partnership, we look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience with the Shams team and supporting their journey towards establishing a production hub capable of serving local, regional and international productions. We also see strong potential for this partnership to develop further, with continued cooperation between our teams across operational and development matters.”
The deal also opens the way, subject to mutual agreement, for wider collaboration spanning studio development, technical expertise, knowledge exchange and possible international production opportunities.
