Morocco is expected to host the filming of a major Saudi television production about the final days of the Kingdom of Granada. Provisionally titled Grenada… The Final Days, the historical epic follows in the footsteps of major Arab productions dedicated to Al-Andalus. According to available information, location scouting is currently underway in Morocco, pending the necessary permits from the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM).
The project focuses on the fall of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, the last Muslim state on the Iberian Peninsula, which came to an end in 1492 with the surrender of Emir Mohammed XII, known in the West as Boabdil.
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The work is associated with Walid Saif, a Palestinian-Jordanian writer, historian and screenwriter, and a leading figure in Arab historical drama. It would continue the extensive series on the history of Al-Andalus that he developed with Syrian director Hatem Ali in the early 2000s.
The duo produced three historical epics that became landmarks of Arab television: Saqr Quraish in 2002, Rabee’ Qortoba in 2003 and Muluk Al-Tawa’if in 2005. The three productions trace different periods in the Muslim history of the Iberian Peninsula, from the establishment of the Umayyads in Al-Andalus to the fragmentation of the Caliphate of Córdoba and the era of the Taifa kingdoms. A fourth installment dedicated to the fall of Granada had been considered by Walid Saif and Hatem Ali but never came to fruition.
This new installment would focus on the twilight of the Nasrid Kingdom and Mohammed XII of Granada, the city’s last Muslim ruler, also known as Abu Abdallah and referred to in Arabic sources by the nickname “Az-Zughbi,” or “the Unfortunate.”
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The project would thus mark a return to the Andalusian world developed by Walid Saif more than 20 years after the first productions. Tim Hassan, Jamal Suliman and Moroccan actor Mohamed Miftah notably appeared in earlier installments of the television epic.
According to information surrounding the project’s preparation, several regions of Morocco are currently being considered as filming locations. The Kingdom has a rich architectural and natural heritage that could serve as a backdrop for recreating medieval Spain, along with infrastructure and technical expertise with a proven track record of hosting international historical productions.
The project also comes amid the growing strength of Saudi Arabia’s audiovisual industry. MBC Group occupies a central position in this ecosystem. Since September 2025, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, has held a 54% stake in the group, which includes television channels, MBC Studios and the Shahid streaming platform.
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Morocco and MBC also have a long history of collaboration in historical drama. In 2012, the Kingdom notably hosted much of the filming of the series Omar, about Omar ibn al-Khattab and considered at the time one of the most ambitious productions in Arab television.
The choice of Morocco reflects the country’s broader appeal to foreign productions. With its diverse landscapes, natural settings, studios and pool of experienced technicians, the Kingdom has gradually established itself as one of the region’s leading filming hubs.
