The film was shot in Tunisia and Qatar. The battle scenes were shot in the deserts of Qatar and took over four weeks to shoot.
Filming took place in Tunisia during the Jasmine Revolution that led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Filming finished on-schedule and on-budget with no interference.
Qatar's first major international co-production.
The film cast includes one Oscar winner: Riz Ahmed; and one Oscar nominee: Antonio Banderas.