A partnership formalised at MIPCOM Cannes sets out to pass on studio expertise and deepen international production cooperation. Q1 2027 is the target date for the opening phase of Shams Production Hub, which will bring five purpose-built sound stages.
CANNES, France: A strategic partnership supporting the growth of Shams Production Hub in Sharjah, UAE has been formalised at MIPCOM Cannes by Sharjah Media City (Shams), a leading UAE freezone authority, together with Origo Studios, which ranks among Hungary’s leading film studio complexes.
Under the agreement, Origo Studios will run a three-phase training and knowledge-transfer programme with a clear goal: readiness within the Shams team to run the facility to international standards. That training combines online sessions with hands-on learning at Origo Studios in Budapest and on-site guidance in Sharjah.
Topics addressed by the programme include studio operations, art department management, post-production, business development and sales, finance and production incentives, backlot operations, technical infrastructure, governance, and sustainable production practices.
Five purpose-built sound stages, each of approximately 1,710 square metres, are planned for Shams Production Hub. Commencement of the opening phase is scheduled for Q1 2027.
Expanding commercial links between Hungary and Sharjah also underpin the partnership. At present, 67 companies registered by Hungarian businesses and investors are hosted by Shams, and 31 of those pursue media-related activities.
In the words of H.E. Rashid Abdalla Al Obad, Director General of Shams: “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 said: “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.”
Wider collaboration spanning studio development, technical expertise, knowledge exchange and potential international production opportunities is also envisaged by the deal, subject to mutual agreement.
