Ghubar Al-Azz Team: We Bet on a Heritage Epic that Presents Gulf Society with Its Urban and Bedouin Components
The cast and crew of the series “Ghubar Al-Azz” revealed the final stages of filming the drama during a press conference held yesterday evening at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, attended by several of the series’ stars and creators. They outlined the details of the dramatic experience, which aims to present a Gulf heritage epic with a visual perspective that blends the authenticity of the narrative with the richness of the local environment, while leveraging the latest capabilities and technologies in image production.
“Ghubar Al-Azz” is produced by Cast for Artistic Production, with support from the Media City, a move that reflects a trend toward reviving local heritage drama through a large-scale project that evokes the features of the Gulf environment in its details. The series is written by Talib Al-Dosari and directed by Mohammed Al-Tawalla, and features more than 100 actors and actresses from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan, including veteran artist Salah Al-Mulla, Ali Mirza Mahmoud, Munther Rayyane, Amira Al-Sharif, Khalid Turki, and others.
Writer Talib Al-Dosari explained that the work belongs to the Gulf Bedouin environment, noting that the idea stemmed from a desire to present a more comprehensive image of Gulf society, encompassing both its Bedouin and urban components, and the interaction and harmony between them. He stated that the work began with an attempt to evoke an important stage in the history of Gulf society and how the cohesion of its components contributed to facing tyranny and establishing the features of the Gulf society we know today. He pointed out that this formation is particularly evident in Qatari society. Al-Dosari noted that most Gulf dramatic works have focused on the Gulf through the lens of the sea, while the desert component has been less present. He affirmed that “Ghubar Al-Azz” aims to give the desert its rightful place in the narrative and to highlight this aspect of Gulf identity. He added that writing the work took about five months, interspersed with reviews and in-depth research, explaining that the series draws excerpts from reality and the local environment, blending them with dramatic fiction in an attempt to present a work that is both documentary and epic in nature.
For his part, director Mohammed Al-Tawalla expressed his happiness at the opportunity to visit Qatar and take on this large-scale project, which represents an important milestone in his career, especially as it deals with two interrelated environments: the Bedouin and the urban. He said that the hot weather did not prevent the work team from being mentally and psychologically present, and that everyone was eager to give their best to match the magnitude of the experience. Al-Tawalla thanked the Media City for its trust in the executive producer and for providing all the necessary requirements to complete the work. He also congratulated the executive producer on this large-scale epic and praised their effective management of the project from both material and moral perspectives. He expressed his delight at the new talents he discovered in front of the camera, noting that several Qatari and Saudi faces surprised him with their potential and presence.
Executive producer Mohammed Anwar thanked writer Talib Al-Dosari for delivering the script early, which allowed the work team sufficient time for research and verification, particularly regarding dialects and environmental details. He also expressed his appreciation for veteran artist Salah Al-Mulla for accepting the invitation to participate in the work, and for director Mohammed Al-Tawalla in his first experience in Qatar, affirming that he proved his ability to bear responsibility for the project on all human, artistic, and professional levels. Anwar praised all participating artists, affirming that each has their own unique imprint, and expressed his pride in the participation of artist Ali Mirza Mahmoud.
For his part, artist Salah Al-Mulla expressed his gratitude to the work team and the director for their efforts in completing the series. He also appreciated the support of the Media City, along with several other entities that contributed to providing suitable conditions for filming, including the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Interior, among other supporting bodies.
Artist Ali Mirza Mahmoud expressed his happiness at working with this constellation of artists and technicians, praising the commitment and sense of responsibility displayed by everyone. He expressed his appreciation for the executive producer for this initiative, which he described as an important step in producing an epic dramatic work that adds to the legacy of Qatari drama and helps restore its shine to the local and Gulf artistic scene.
On her part, Saudi artist Amira Al-Sharif expressed her happiness at participating in the series, which gave her the opportunity to stand alongside major artistic figures, adding much to her experience in drama. She thanked director Mohammed Al-Tawalla, whom she described as “the man of action” due to his ethics and humanity, as well as the producer and all artists and technicians.
For his part, Saudi artist Nawaf Al-Zafiri described the work as very rich, noting that he did not expect it to be so large in terms of production and artistic participation. He expressed his happiness at working with director Mohammed Al-Tawalla, whom he described as an inspiring leader, despite the hot weather. He also praised executive producer Mohammed Anwar, affirming that he was up to the responsibility and provided all the necessary requirements for the work and its team.
