Al Balad is the historic heart of Jeddah. Its maze of coral-stone houses and busy souks grew up around the port for pilgrims travelling to Makkah. We filmed here for Aperture, our documentary with British photographer Richard Wilding. Here is what we learned from filming in Al Balad.
The look of Al Balad comes from its tall coral-stone houses. Their rawasheen, carved wooden balconies, shade the windows. The district has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. Landmarks such as Nassif House and the Al Shafi’i Mosque are only a few minutes’ walk apart.
The streets are narrow, so compact kit works best for filming in Al Balad. We keep the crew small and use gimbals and fast lenses instead of big rigs. We also look for angles where the balconies frame the shot. Early mornings are quiet, with soft light, while evenings bring the souks, the lights and the crowds.
Filming in Al Balad also means working in a living neighbourhood. Shops, residents and worshippers come first, so we plan around prayer times and ask before filming people. Restoration work continues across the district, so we check which streets are open before every shoot. You also need a filming permit, and drones need their own permit.
The old town is also home to the Red Sea International Film Festival, which has taken place in Al Balad since 2021. As a result, film crews are a familiar sight here. Read about our time at the 2025 festival. For exterior work, the most comfortable months are November to March.
“Keep the crew small and let the balconies frame the story.”
Stock Stop
Location filming is one of the ways Stock Stop supports productions across Saudi Arabia, from scouting to crew and kit. With offices in London and Riyadh, we can support your own crew or run the whole shoot. If you are planning a shoot in Jeddah, we would be glad to talk.
