( CNN ) In `` Game of Thrones , '' Yunkai might be a fictional city ruled by an oligarchy of slave merchants , but the scenes had to be filmed in the real world . The citadel of Ait-Ben-Haddou in Morocco near Ouarzazate ( pronounced Wa-za-zat ) was chosen as the location , and is one of the most popular film-making destinations in the region . And scenes set in the ancient city of Astapor , which was a big part of the final episode of season three , was filmed in Essaouira -- also in Morocco . But the creators of `` Game of Thrones '' were not the first to use the region 's beauty as the backdrop for a major international production . More than a decade before them , Ridley Scott chose the North African country to film the gory glory of ancient Rome in his epic `` Gladiator '' starring Russell Crowe . And so did the producers of `` Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time '' which starred Jake Gyllenhaal . Indeed , big foreign productions seeking a Middle Eastern backdrop ( and possibly an academy award ) have long chosen Morocco for its relatively cheap price tag and safety -- and nearly half of the films shot in the kingdom are made in Ouarzazate . According to Amine Tazi , who runs two of the town 's biggest studios , foreign directors come for the dramatic light as well as the wide variety of landscapes . But Morocco 's appeal goes far beyond the beautiful vistas . Filmmakers can find experienced local crews that help productions save half the cost they 'd pay in Europe or the U.S. `` Logistically , [ Ouarzazate is ] very good , '' says Tazi , general manager at Atlas & CLA Studios . `` Everything is very close by . Hotels are close by . People are very movie friendly and very efficient . '' Tazi 's studios also offer dozens of set options -- from Styrofoam Egyptian temples to plaster-cast Tibetan Palaces . National Geographic used one of his sets in the mini-series `` Killing Jesus '' -- the seven-week production was filmed by a crew of 250 people and included 4,500 extras . Bargain Hunting . Atlas Studios opened in 1983 to host the Michael Douglas classic `` The Jewel of the Nile . '' Since then , around 200 TV shows and films have been shot there , including `` Babel , '' starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett . `` Morocco is one of the countries that goes out of its way to welcome film makers , '' says Tony Reeves , writer of the Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations . `` Technical crews in Morocco are well sought after -- builders , painters , extras , electrical resources . '' But in recent years productions have been hit by the global financial crisis and the uncertainty following the Arab Spring which ripped through North Africa . Between 2008 and 2013 , Tazi 's revenue dropped by 50 % . Such a slowdown hit Ouarzazate'seconomy , where many of the 100,000 citizens rely on the cinema industry from employment . `` The city is poor . There [ are ] few job opportunities , '' says resident Abdelaziz Bouydnayen , who once played Osama Bin Laden in a National Geographic documentary . `` We are all just waiting ... There are millions of dollars that come into this city , but the city is still poor . '' In the past decade , both of the town 's theaters have closed leaving residents without a place to watch the films shot in their back yard . Changing Times . Yet , a series of recent developments have started to show the start of a revival . Last year , 22 films used Tazi 's studios -- up from 12 in 2013 . Foreign film projects spent $ 120 million in 2014 , according to the country 's film commission -- up from $ 23 million the previous year . And part of the reason filmmakers keep coming to Morocco are the tax-incentives -- foreign crews are exempt from paying value added tax . But the other reason is the experience of Moroccan talent . `` Making stories of biblical proportions requires that there be casts of hundreds '' says Roma Downey , who is producing the upcoming TV series `` A.D. '' in Morocco . `` To wrangle that many people and have them be so focused and understand what they 're doing is a big part of what they 're doing . It save time , saves money . '' Tazi is so confident that the current boom will continue that he plans to build a brand new Roman-themed set this year . He 's hoping to keep the cameras rolling and action going in Morocco 's Hollywood . More from Marketplace Africa . Read this : Teenager brings poop power to Kenyan school . Read this : Bitcoins hit Africa 's money transfer traditions .
The town of Ouarzazate is often called Morocco 's Hollywood . Ridley Scott 's film `` Gladiator '' and parts of `` Game of Thrones '' have been filmed in the area . The industry is making a comeback after being hit hard by the global financial crisis .