7 DOGS (2026)

Summary:

7 Dogs (originally released in Arabic as الكلاب السبعة, al-Kilāb as-Sabʿa) is a 2026 Saudi Arabian action crime thriller film directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life, Bad Boys: Ride or Die) and written by Mohamed El-Dabbah from a story co-developed by Turki Alalshikh. Produced by Sela Studios with support from Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority and Riyadh Season, the film holds the distinction of being the most expensive Arabic-language production in cinema history with a budget of $40 million. Starring Egyptian superstars Ahmed Ezz as elite Interpol agent Khalid Al-Azzazi and Karim Abdel Aziz as syndicate crime figure Ghali Abu Dawood, the film features an international ensemble cast including Monica Bellucci, Giancarlo Esposito, Tara Emad, Nasser Al Qasabi, Sayed Ragab, Menna Shalabi, Hana El Zahed, and guest appearances by Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Martin Lawrence, and Francis Ngannou. The narrative follows an uneasy alliance between a rigid law enforcement officer and a feared underworld figure as they join forces to dismantle a deadly transnational drug cartel threatening the region. Releasing across Middle Eastern theaters on May 27, 2026, 7 Dogs set box-office records across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Keywords: 7 Dogs 2026 Movie, Adil and Bilall Directors, Ahmed Ezz Karim Abdel Aziz, Monica Bellucci Saudi Movie, Most Expensive Arabic Film, 7 Dogs Action Thriller.

Plot:

The high-octane narrative of 7 Dogs opens against the bustling backdrop of the Middle East, establishing a high-stakes, cross-border crisis triggered by the rapid rise of a ruthless transnational drug cartel. The syndicate introduces a highly addictive, lethal synthetic drug known on the black market as "Pink Lady," which rapidly penetrates regional distribution routes and destabilizes localized communities. Leading the international task force against this crisis is Khalid Al-Azzazi (Ahmed Ezz), a disciplined, highly tactical, and unyielding Interpol agent. Khalid has spent years pursuing the syndicate, but every attempt to dismantle their network is thwarted by sophisticated digital encryption, heavily armed mercenary units, and deep-seated political corruption that shields the cartel’s leadership from legal prosecution.

Realizing that standard international policing protocols are insufficient to breach the cartel's fortified infrastructure, Khalid is forced to make a radical, highly controversial decision. He seeks out Ghali Abu Dawood (Karim Abdel Aziz), a smooth-talking, sharp-witted, and formidable criminal leader belonging to the legendary "7 Dogs" crime syndicate. Ghali commands immense authority within the regional underworld, operating under a strict criminal code of honor. Although Khalid and Ghali represent opposite sides of the law and share a bitter history of personal animosity, Ghali recognizes that the cartel's aggressive expansion and reckless distribution of "Pink Lady" pose an existential threat to his own organization's territory and his family's safety. Driven by a mutual need for survival and justice, the cop and the crime boss form a volatile, uneasy alliance to wage a covert war against their common enemy.

The narrative shifts into a high-velocity, globe-trotting mission as Khalid and Ghali pool their respective resources—combining Interpol’s high-tech surveillance capabilities and tactical combat training with Ghali’s intimate knowledge of underworld hideouts, black-market informants, and clandestine supply lines. Their joint investigation leads them into conflict with a network of high-profile international figures connected to the syndicate. Among them is Giulia Leone (Monica Bellucci), a sophisticated, cold-blooded European distributor who manages the financial channels for the drug trade, and Roman Marks (Giancarlo Esposito), a shadowy global operator who coordinates international logistics and mercenary security forces. As the duo closes the distance on the cartel's supply hubs, they must navigate a constant gauntlet of high-speed vehicular pursuits, intense firefights, and brutal ambushes across city streets, desert outposts, and luxury estates.

The tension within the alliance is continuously tested by deep-seated mistrust, ideological clashes, and secret agendas. Khalid struggles with the moral compromise of working alongside a known outlaw, while Ghali must protect his own position from internal syndicate rivals who view his cooperation with law enforcement as a fatal betrayal. The stakes become deeply personal when the cartel's leadership targets Khalid's family and Ghali's loyalists in a bid to fracture their partnership. Facing double-crosses from corrupt officials within law enforcement and ruthless hit squads deployed by the syndicate, Khalid and Ghali realize that the conspiracy reaches far higher into political and administrative circles than either had initially anticipated.

The narrative culminates in a grand, pulse-pounding final showdown inside a fortified, high-tech stronghold on the outskirts of Riyadh. Utilizing tactical maneuvers engineered by 87Eleven stunt teams, Khalid, Ghali, and an elite team of Interpol operatives launch a full-scale physical assault on the cartel’s central headquarters. In a sequence combining heavy artillery combat, explosive destruction, and visceral hand-to-hand altercations, the duo fights back-to-back through waves of heavily armed mercenaries, systematically dismantling the cartel’s leadership and destroying the central processing facilities of the drug network. Standing amidst the smoking ruins of the compound, Khalid and Ghali achieve their shared objective, exposing the corrupt global network to the international press. The film concludes on a tense yet respectful note; while their joint mission is complete and the immediate threat is neutralized, Khalid acknowledges the criminal boss's crucial role in saving countless lives, leaving their future relationship open as both men step back onto their respective sides of the law.

Cast:

• Ahmed Ezz as Khalid Al-Azzazi (The elite Interpol officer)

• Karim Abdel Aziz as Ghali Abu Dawood (The "7 Dogs" syndicate leader)

• Monica Bellucci as Giulia Leone (The European distributor)

• Giancarlo Esposito as Roman Marks (The global cartel operator)

• Nasser Al Qasabi as General Nasser

• Sayed Ragab as General Sabri

• Tara Emad as Elite Interpol Agent

• Sandy Bella as Jessica

• Max Huang as Han

• Menna Shalabi as Sarah

• Hana El Zahed as Rabab

• Hala Sedki as Khalid's Mother

• Salman Khan as Johar (Special Cameo Appearance)

• Sanjay Dutt as Ranjeet (Special Cameo Appearance)

• Martin Lawrence as Barney (Cameo Appearance)

• Francis Ngannou as Security Guard (Cameo Appearance)

Crew:

• Directors: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah

• Writers: Mohamed El-Dabbah (Screenplay), Turki Alalshikh (Story & Creator)

• Producers: Ivan Atkinson, Cyrus Patel, Mohamed Hilaly

• Executive Producer: Turki Alalshikh

• Production Companies: Sela Studios, General Entertainment Authority, Riyadh Season, Black Bear

• Music Composer: Lorne Balfe

• Cinematographer (DOP): Robrecht Heyvaert

• Editor: Pieter Smet

• Production Designer: Paul Kirby

• Costume Designers: Beatrice Giannini, Mark Bouman

• Stunt Coordinator: Stephen Dunlevy (87Eleven)

Release Info:

• World Premiere: May 22, 2026 (Cairo, Egypt)

• Theatrical Release Date: May 27, 2026 (Middle East) / June 26, 2026 (United States)

• Original Languages: Arabic and English

• Genre: Action / Crime / Thriller / Comedy

• Running Time: 123 Minutes (2 Hours 3 Minutes)

• Censor Certification: R / 15A

• Budget: $40 Million (Most expensive Arabic-language film ever made)

• Box Office Status: Record-shattering commercial success across the MENA region