Can one building change the fate of an entire city—or a country?

The Bilbao Effect explores the transformation of Bilbao, Spain, from a polluted industrial city into a thriving cultural capital—through the eyes of a young Arab architect investigating why Gulf countries are pouring billions into iconic museums. His journey reveals that Bilbao’s success wasn’t just about the Guggenheim—it was about bold urban policies, public infrastructure, and community renewal.

Blending travel, architecture, and political insight, the film follows Ibrahim Al-Imam as he uncovers how Bilbao turned from decline to global admiration. It draws compelling parallels to ambitious museum projects in Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar, asking: are these buildings for culture—or power?