Kanye West Shooting Secret Project in the Middle East

Kanye West has been spotted in the Middle East nation state of Qatar, reportedly shooting a music video alongside fellow rapper Kid Cudi.

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Rumors first emerged in February that West was considering the region for his next video project, with members of his team having spent some time scouting possible locations and production partners in Qatar, alongside Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

But it seems Qatar emerged as the victor, and Kanye and his crew were seen late last week filming at the spacious ceremonial court in Education City, a vast complex on the outskirts of Doha, the country’s capital. Students living in the area reported seeing camels and horses on the set while Twitter was awash with Kanye sightings around town. One source suggested that the Doha Film Institute, the government-backed cultural organisation behind such events as the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, was involved.

While the entire operation has remained extremely secretive, many assume the video will be in the same vein as 2010’s "Runaway," which served as a lengthy art-house teaser video for the My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album.

“It’s going to be approximately 30 minutes long, in between a long form music video and short film,” a source told The Hollywood Reporter. “Kanye conceived the story, which is set in the Gulf. It’s supposed to showcase the beauty of the region, a piece that’s culturally sensitive and embraces the customs and traditions of the region.”

Speaking to local media, a student who had worked on the set said that models from a local agency had been used as extras, and that they had been dressed in a manner that was “culturally sensitive”.