A deal formalised at MIPCOM Cannes will pass studio expertise to Sharjah and tighten cross-border production cooperation. Shams Production Hub opens with five purpose-built sound stages in a first phase due to begin in Q1 2027.
CANNES, France: MIPCOM Cannes has seen a strategic partnership formalised between Sharjah Media City (Shams), a leading UAE freezone authority, and Origo Studios, one of the leading film studio complexes in Hungary, in support of Shams Production Hub, which is being developed in Sharjah, UAE.
Origo Studios takes on a three-phase training and knowledge-transfer programme under the agreement, readying Shams staff to operate the facility at international standards. Three elements make up the training: online sessions, hands-on learning at Origo Studios in Budapest, and on-site guidance in Sharjah.
Studio operations, art department management, post-production, business development and sales, finance and production incentives, backlot operations, technical infrastructure, governance and sustainable production practices all feature in the programme.
Shams Production Hub is to house five purpose-built sound stages, each one approximately 1,710 square metres in size. A start in Q1 2027 is scheduled for the first phase.
Also behind the partnership is the expanding trade relationship linking Hungary and Sharjah. Of the 67 companies at Shams registered by Hungarian investors and businesses, 31 are engaged in media-related activities.
The Director General of Shams, H.E. Rashid Abdalla Al Obad, said: “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.”
Dr. Márta Fekszi Horváth, CEO of Origo Studios, 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.”
Beyond the training, the two sides have set a basis for working together on studio development, technical expertise, knowledge exchange and potential international production opportunities, subject to mutual agreement.
