"Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi," an upcoming Pak-Turk television series, is a collaborative production between Turkey's Akli Film and Pakistan's Ansari and Shah Films. The series revolves around the life of Saladin, the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, and its production commenced in the summer of 2022. The producers have emphasized that the primary audience for the series comprises non-Muslims who may be less familiar with Muslim history. The script for the series is being crafted by multiple Turkish historians.

What is the story of Selahaddin Eyyubi?

The television series centers around the life of Saladin, a 12th-century Muslim ruler, and his conquest of Jerusalem. It also delves into his challenges and conflicts with the Crusaders, as well as his aspiration to unify the Muslim regions of Syria, northern Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Egypt under his leadership.

The cast of the upcoming TV series includes:

  • - Ugur Gunes as Selahaddin Eyyubi
  • - Dilin Doger as Süreyya Khatun
  • - Mehmet Ali Nuroglu as Nur ad-Din Zengi
  • - Seda Yıldız as Ayyub ibn Shadi
  • - Ali bin Sufyan (TBA)

Overview of the series:

  • - Season: 1
  • - Episodes: To be announced (TBA)
  • - Originally aired: November 13, 2023
  • - Last aired: To be announced (TBA)

Release Date

"Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi" is scheduled to release the series on November 13, 2023.

Story Writing

The series "Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi" is set to explore themes related to the Quran, history, and religious harmony. It aims to showcase how the Quran can be effectively utilized in the governance of diverse empires embraced by people of various religions. This perspective is emphasized by Adnan Siddiqui, one of the producers of the series.

The series places a central focus on the Quran, historical context, and the promotion of religious harmony. It aims to illustrate the effective utilization of the Quran in governing diverse empires, where people from various religious backgrounds come together and find common ground.

Shoting of Selahaddin Eyyubi

Filming for the TV series will take place in Turkey, and the production is planned to span three seasons, with each season consisting of 34 episodes, as revealed by Adnan Siddiqui.

Production officially commenced on January 29, 2022, when producer Emre Konuk shared an image on his Instagram account with the caption "Selahaddin Eyyubi yakında!" (English: Selahaddin Eyyubi soon).

To accommodate the extensive sets and locations required for the series, approximately 240 acres of land in Istanbul have been secured. These vast lands will be used to construct replicas of cities such as Jerusalem, Tikrit, and various cities in Syria and Egypt.

Initially, there were plans to inaugurate these cities in Turkey between March 15 and 20, 2022, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan as special guests. However, these plans were canceled due to a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, which led to his removal from office. 

Production Development:

On August 20, 2021, a significant agreement was reached between Emre Konuk, the owner of Akli Film Production, and the producers Dr. Kashif Ansari and Dr. Junaid Ali Shah from Pakistan's Ansari & Shah Films. This agreement marked the official collaboration for the production of the new series titled "Selahaddin Eyyubi," and it was signed in Belgrade.

Emre Konuk shared the exciting news on his Twitter account, expressing his happiness about the contract signing and the potential of this international project. The project was set to be a cooperative effort between Turkey and Pakistan, with the aim of bringing benefits to both countries and the world of art.


Subsequently, on October 18, 2021, a delegation from Turkey arrived at Islamabad International Airport to initiate auditions for the drama series in Lahore and Karachi. During their visit, the delegation also had the opportunity to explore iconic sites such as the Faisal Mosque and officially announce the collaboration between Pakistan and Turkey. They engaged in meetings with various government officials and dignitaries. The auditions in Lahore and Karachi were conducted at Nishat Hotel and DHA, respectively, with Berna Kürekci and Ahmet Faruk serving as judges for the audition process.