Saudi Arabia

Where Memory becomes Research

Athar Research Studio is a research studio specializing in intangible cultural heritage, oral history, and cultural memory. We develop and write tailored research that serves as a foundational reference for documentary series as well as cultural and creative projects.

Our work relies on a research methodology that integrates field documentation, archival research, specialized books and references, encyclopedias, academic journals and periodicals, historical records and documents, as well as visual and material sources.

We also verify oral accounts and testimonies by cross-referencing them with written sources, original documents, and material and visual evidence. In doing so, we trace the source of every piece of information, assess its reliability, and contextualize it within its historical and cultural background.

Through this methodology, we aim to build coherent and credible research narratives grounded in diverse, verifiable sources—providing a solid knowledge base for the development of documentary series and creative cultural initiatives.

Our mission

We produce rigorous research that uncovers cultural memory and heritage, providing filmmakers and documentary storytellers with a reliable foundation for their stories.

Our vision

To become a leading research reference for documenting cultural memory and heritage, transforming knowledge into authentic documentary narratives.

Founder of Athar Research Studio

Diana Al-Khamis is a Saudi researcher and media specialist holding a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media, with a dedicated passion for research and development for films and documentary series. She leads a team of specialized documentary researchers to provide reliable information and primary sources that empower directors and content creation teams to conceptualize ideas, script documentary works, and build research-backed narratives.

Diana has worked on a diverse portfolio of Saudi documentary projects, including Kingdom's Crops (Mahaseel Al-Mamlakah), Rhythm of the Earth (Iqa'a Al-Ardh), a biographical documentary on actor Abdulmohsen Al-Nemer, and a film on archaeologist Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Ansary, alongside numerous other documentary research and pre-production projects.

Driven by her passion for research and her belief in its critical role in filmmaking, she founded Athar Research—a studio specializing in documentary film and series research. The studio delivers specialized services in historical research, documentation, archiving, oral history, and field research. It aims to equip filmmakers and writing teams with the essential historical and cultural context needed to craft accurate, deeply rooted documentary content from initial concept through to scriptwriting.

Throughout her career, she has collaborated with prominent media and cultural entities, including the Ministry of Media, the Konoz Initiative, the Ministry of Culture, the Culinary Arts Commission, and the Heritage Commission, as well as leading Saudi production companies such as Qomra, Through The Light, Oaj Studio, and others.

Diana Al-Khamis | Founder of Athar Research