From Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator and Game of Thrones, a remote town at the edge of the Sahara has quietly become one of cinema's favourite backlots. A look at Ouarzazate, its legendary Atlas Studios and the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou.
On the silver screen it might be ancient Rome, biblical Jerusalem, the sands of Egypt or the mythical city of Yunkai. In reality, it is very often the same place, a sun-baked town on the edge of the Moroccan desert called Ouarzazate. Over the past six decades this remote corner of North Africa has quietly transformed into one of the most sought-after filming locations on Earth, earning itself the nickname of the Hollywood of the desert.
Hollywood in the desert
At the heart of Ouarzazate's cinematic fame sit its enormous film studios, unlike almost anything else in the world. According to reports, Atlas Corporation Studios, located a few kilometres west of the town, was founded in 1983 by the Moroccan entrepreneur Mohamed Belghmi. Spread across a vast expanse of desert and mountain terrain, it is often described as one of the largest film studios anywhere on the planet by sheer area.
Where the epics were born
The region's love affair with cinema actually began long before the studios themselves were built. According to reports, the area around Ouarzazate was first used as a movie set for the classic Lawrence of Arabia back in 1962, and it never looked back. In the decades since, more than 200 films are said to have been shot in the region, spanning biblical tales, ancient legends and modern blockbusters alike.
The list of productions filmed here reads like a roll call of cinema history and popular television. According to reports, titles shot in and around Ouarzazate include Gladiator, The Mummy, Kingdom of Heaven, Babel, Prince of Persia and The Passion of the Christ, as well as hit series such as Game of Thrones and Vikings. Few places on Earth can claim such a dense concentration of famous scenes.
The sheer variety of stories brought to life here is perhaps just as striking as the volume. According to reports, the region has hosted everything from the historical drama Kundun and the James Bond adventure The Living Daylights to the recent live-action Aladdin and the action film The Old Guard. This range, stretching from solemn biblical epics to swashbuckling fantasy, shows just how adaptable the desert setting can be.
A landscape that can be anywhere
So what makes this particular patch of desert so irresistible to filmmakers from around the globe? According to reports, the region enjoys a remarkably reliable and sunny climate, along with dramatic landscapes that can convincingly stand in for many different countries and eras. Its terrain and sets have doubled for places as varied as Jerusalem, Tibet and ancient Egypt without the crews ever leaving Morocco.
Another clever advantage lies in the way the elaborate sets are treated once filming wraps. According to reports, rather than being torn down, many of the grand constructions are left standing so they can be reused by future films and television productions. This gives the whole area the feel of a permanent open-air museum of cinema, where a Roman temple might sit beside an Egyptian palace.
Why filmmakers keep coming back
Beyond the scenery, there are solid practical reasons that keep the productions flowing year after year. According to reports, the combination of striking natural backdrops, ready-made sets and established local infrastructure makes shooting in Ouarzazate highly cost-effective for large-scale projects. Generations of Moroccan crews have also built up deep expertise, turning the town into a reliable partner for demanding international shoots.
The jewel of Ait Ben Haddou
No account of the region would be complete without its most photogenic star, which is not a person but a place. According to reports, the nearby Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a spectacular fortified village built from clay, lies around a thirty minute drive from the studios. This ancient ksar is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has featured as a backdrop in numerous historical epics.
Its maze of earthen towers and narrow passageways feels almost frozen in time, which is precisely what makes it so valuable to storytellers. According to reports, the site is close enough to be combined with the studios on a single day trip, and it even lies within reach of the city of Marrakech. For visitors, walking its lanes offers the strange thrill of recognising scenes from beloved films.
A living film set
Today, Ouarzazate is not only a workplace for filmmakers but also a magnet for curious travellers from all over the world. According to reports, Atlas Studios operates guided tours throughout the day, with tickets costing around 80 dirhams and an optional extra to visit the famous Kingdom of Heaven set and its small museum. Wandering among the leftover props and facades is a genuinely surreal experience.
In the end, the story of Ouarzazate is a reminder that movie magic is often rooted in very real places. This modest desert town has lent its light, its sand and its ancient walls to some of the most memorable films ever made, all while remaining relatively unknown to the wider public. For anyone who loves cinema, few pilgrimages could be as rewarding as a visit to the Hollywood of the desert.
Keep subscribing to سارة المنصوريHer next filing reaches you the moment it publishes, on her own subdomain.
Subscribe