Atlas & CLA Studios are a cinematic gem in the heart of Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Africa.
Since 1983, Atlas and CLA Studios have established themselves as a major force in the film industry, in Morocco and internationally. More than shooting locations, Atlas and CLA embody a genuine visual heritage, spread across dozens of hectares devoted to creation.
More than 250 blockbusters have been shot in Morocco, many of them major productions hosted in Ouarzazate, confirming the country’s strategic position on the world stage. With 3,500 km of coastline, 100,000 km² of mountains, 300,000 km² of desert and exceptional climatic diversity, Morocco offers a unique natural palette.
Sound stages, backlots, permanent sets, specialist workshops and experienced crews: Atlas and CLA Studios offer complete infrastructure, backed by more than 300 days of sunshine a year and a solid institutional framework.
An integrated ecosystem, serving the most ambitious productions.
Our mission
Atlas and CLA Studios work together to champion cinema, both as an art form and as a strategic industry. We support productions of every size, placing our expertise, our facilities and a deep passion for film at their disposal.Beyond their role as production hubs, Atlas and CLA Studios are also a leading film-tourism destination. Every year, visitors from around the world come to go behind the scenes of major international works and explore sets that have become iconic.
History
In 1983, Atlas Studios opened its facilities in Ouarzazate.
This landmark site quickly became a major centre of international cinema, where life-size sets took shape for the most prestigious productions. The first feature film shot here was The Jewel of the Nile, starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. On the guided tour you can still see the plane used in the film’s famous scene.
Over the years, blockbusters such as The Mummy, Gladiator, Ben-Hur and Kingdom of Heaven have helped build the reputation of Atlas Studios, while supporting the local economy and boosting the region’s appeal to visitors. Today, every shoot and every visitor still adds a new page to this great story of world cinema.
