Egyptian Media Production City

Egyptian Media Production City is a large information, broadcasting, film, television, and entertainment complex in 6th of October City, in Egypt's Giza Governorate. It operates as Egyptian Media Production City Co SAE, commonly abbreviated as EMPC, and is listed on the Egyptian Exchange. Although it has a public-market status, ownership is predominantly associated with the Egyptian state through the National Media Authority and other state-owned enterprises. The complex was developed as a national infrastructure project intended to support television production, cinema, broadcasting-related services, training, cultural presentation, and visitor-oriented entertainment. Planning and construction began in 1992. The first phase was completed that year, and the foundation stone for the second phase was laid by President Hosni Mubarak on 29 May 1994. Phase II was inaugurated in June 1996, while the broader media city was formally launched in 2000. Its development reflected an effort to concentrate production facilities and technical services in a purpose-built location outside central Cairo, while also creating controlled environments for studio and outdoor filming. The complex combines production infrastructure with themed architectural and entertainment areas. Its studio facilities include technologically equipped television and film studios, supporting annexes, utilities, and outdoor shooting areas of different sizes. The outdoor environments were designed to provide varied settings for dramatic productions, commercials, programs, and other filmed content. The site also includes a covered theatre suitable for television productions, concerts, conferences, festivals, and community events, as well as open-air theatres for variety performances, musical shows, and televised concerts. EMPC's technical-service offering has historically included film processing, editing, color correction, sound recording, dubbing, and final-version printing for 16 mm and 35 mm film. A services complex supports fabrication and maintenance connected with studios and shooting locations. The city has also included a hotel, a training center intended to develop broadcasting and production personnel, and a staff club providing social and sporting facilities. These components position the organization as more than a collection of studios: it is an integrated production campus with hospitality, skills development, and operational support. Several themed zones broaden the complex's cultural and commercial role. The Pharaonic city, modeled on the ancient capital of Akhenaten at Tel El Amarna, incorporates architectural references and simulated statues of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. The Islamic Village draws on Fatimid and Mamluk architectural traditions. Other visitor attractions have included Magic Land, Dino Jungle, Egypt's Gate, an underwater filming area, and a dolphin facility. These spaces can serve both tourism and location-shooting purposes, allowing the site to function as a controlled backdrop for historical, fantasy, educational, and family-oriented content. The city was conceived as a multi-activity organization with production, services and maintenance, and tourism-related functions. Its significance lies in the connection between Egypt's media industry and state-supported cultural infrastructure. It provides physical settings and technical capabilities for audiovisual production while also presenting curated representations of Egyptian history, architecture, and national landmarks. Publicly available reference material does not establish a complete current list of operating facilities, subsidiaries, senior executives, or commercial programming, so those details require further verification.

Egyptian Media Production City emerged from an Egyptian government-backed effort to create a dedicated center for audiovisual production and related services. Construction began in 1992, and the first phase was completed during the same year. The project was then expanded through a second phase whose foundation stone was laid by President Hosni Mubarak on 29 May 1994. Phase II opened in June 1996, and the wider media city was launched in 2000. The development was designed to bring studios, technical services, outdoor locations, training, hospitality, and entertainment into one large complex in 6th of October City. Its production infrastructure included a studios complex, outdoor sets, theatres, and supporting service facilities. Plans for an international studio complex were formalized in January 1997. The complex was intended to use modern production technology and to provide a substantial number of film, television, and video studios, supported by infrastructure, equipment, and operating services. EMPC's scope extended beyond conventional studio rental. Its technical facilities included film laboratory services such as processing, editing, color correction, sound recording, dubbing, and final printing. A services complex supported the fabrication and maintenance needs of production areas. A training center was intended to prepare thousands of people annually, particularly personnel connected with Egypt's broadcasting system. The site also provided hotel accommodation and staff facilities. The physical design incorporated themed locations representing different historical and imaginative environments. The Pharaonic city drew on the ancient settlement of Tel El Amarna and the reign of Akhenaten, with architectural supervision by an archaeologist and simulated figures of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. The Islamic Village used architectural references associated mainly with Fatimid and Mamluk periods. Egypt's Gate presented models or visual references to notable Egyptian monuments, while Magic Land, Dino Jungle, the underwater filming area, and the dolphin venue added family entertainment and specialized filming possibilities. The organization was planned around production, services and maintenance, and tourism-related activities. Public descriptions also envisaged a holding-company structure with subsidiaries corresponding to those functions. EMPC became a publicly listed Egyptian company, but its ownership remained strongly connected to the Egyptian state through the National Media Authority and other state-owned entities. The complex therefore occupies a hybrid position: it is a commercial corporate entity and media-services provider, while also serving national broadcasting, cultural, and infrastructure objectives. Available reference material describes the site's original development and facilities but does not provide a reliable, current account of every operating unit, present-day studio inventory, executive, or recent production. Those areas remain subject to verification.

• 2000

  Media city formally launched

  [1]Egyptian Media Production Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Egyptian Media Production City is formally launched as an integrated media and entertainment complex.

• 1997

  International Studio Complex agreement signed

  [1]Egyptian Media Production Cityen.wikipedia.org

  An agreement for construction and equipping of the International Studio Complex is signed in January.

• 1996

  Phase II inaugurated

  [1]Egyptian Media Production Cityen.wikipedia.org

  The second development phase is inaugurated in June, expanding the site's production and support infrastructure.

• 1994

  Foundation stone laid for Phase II

  [1]Egyptian Media Production Cityen.wikipedia.org

  President Hosni Mubarak lays the foundation stone for the second phase on 29 May 1994.

• 1992

  Construction begins and Phase I is completed

  [1]Egyptian Media Production Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Development of the media-production complex begins in 6th of October City, with the first phase completed during the same year.

An integrated, state-linked Egyptian media-production campus combining television and film facilities, technical services, themed filming environments, training, venues, and entertainment attractions.

• Film and television production

  Studios Complex

  A group of technologically equipped studios in different sizes, with annexes, utilities, and production-support areas. The complex is intended for television, film, and video work and forms the core of EMPC's production-campus proposition.

• Filming locations

  Outdoor Shooting Areas

  Purpose-built exterior locations ranging from smaller settings to larger open-air areas. They provide controlled environments for dramas, television programs, commercials, and other productions requiring scenery beyond conventional sound stages.

• Post-production

  Film Laboratory

  Historically described as providing 16 mm and 35 mm film processing, color correction, editing, final sound recording, dubbing, and final-version printing. The laboratory complemented the site's studio facilities by offering technical finishing services within the same complex.

• Broadcast and live events

  Theatre and Event Venues

  Covered and open-air theatres designed for televised dramatic performances, concerts, variety shows, festivals, conferences, and public events. The venues extend EMPC's use beyond recorded production into live and hybrid programming.

• Media education

  Training Center

  A training facility established to develop personnel in broadcasting and media-production disciplines, including staff associated with Egypt's national broadcasting system. Its scale and current curriculum are not confirmed by the available material.

• Entertainment and location production

  Themed Production and Visitor Areas

  A collection of themed environments including the Pharaonic City, Islamic Village, Egypt's Gate, Magic Land, Dino Jungle, and specialized water-related attractions. These areas combine tourism, recreation, and potential location-shooting functions.

1. 1Egyptian Media Production Cityen.wikipedia.org