United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is on track to realise a two-decade long ambition of becoming a major film and TV destination. The seven-emirate state lays claim to a buoyant international production scene, with Hollywood, Bollywood and a growing number of Arabic-language films and TV shows.

Word of mouth is playing a big part in the UAE's growing ability to bring large-scale international productions to the territory. "It's our mission to attract more and more projects, and this is actually happening organically purely based on the success of some of the projects we've facilitated over the past several years," explains executive producer Robbie McAree, one half of leading boutique production company Epic Films.

Established in 2012 and quickly becoming one of the most trusted production servicing and facilitation companies in the Middle East, Epic is led by Irish managing partners and producers McAree and David Murphy and has offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Legendary's Dune: Part One and Part Two, MGM's Last Light, Sony's Gran Turismo and Netflix's McGregor Forever all filmed in the UAE.

"Some of the international producers on these projects had not filmed in the UAE before," notes McAree. "They had such a positive experience - word spreads fast in international circles on how film-friendly the UAE is. Weve noticed quite a sharp increase in the amount of long-form enquires for filming in Abu Dhabi."

High-profile shoots

The return of the cast and crew for Dune: Part Two was a high-profile show of faith in the UAE's ability to host large-scale international productions. Across its 27-dayUAE shoot, Abu Dhabi once again took a starring role as the desert planet Arrakis, with director Denis Villeneuve shooting in the UAE for much longer than the first film.

"On Part One we spent five days in Abu Dhabi. This time we spent an entire month," says producer Tanya Lapointe. "We had a network of 18 miles of road [built] leading us to different locations where we had tents, catering, construction, cranes and tele-handlers. It was a huge endeavour."

The production also built a village in the desert, which housed 150 crew members. That set-up meant personnel could turn out of the village and be straight onto the sand.

"I think 2023 was challenging due to the SAG strikes so I'm sure everyone is very relieved it's all resolved," notes McAree. "I wish I could say more, but we remain under non-disclosure agreements for a project were currently working on. "We are also in the final stages of lining up another long-form project. Abu Dhabi in particular is busy?"

The UAE is central in the region and has two major international airports. As a tourist hotspot, most nationalities receive an automatic (and complimentary) visiting visa on arrival without advance plan-ning. State-of-the-art infrastructure, roads and access has seen Dubai dubbed the "20-minute city" because most locations are reached easily and quickly by car. Abu Dhabi is grander and spans a larger landscape, which includes Al Ain, the UAE's 'oasis, and Liwa, the mostly untouched 'empty quarter' desert. 

UAE is the filming hub connecting Asia and Europe. Within 300kms radius, you can find everything from modern cities to rocky mountains, and beaches and dunes.

Dubai is rich in its locations as it provides all types of scenery along with the trademarks of Burj Khalifa, The Palm, Burj Al Arab, and Bluewater Islands amongst others. The overall planning of Dubai can cater to scenes of a futuristic nature, urban subcultures, desert landscapes, luxury lifestyles and along with humbly lived areas that are full of stories and texture.

Beyond its wealth of locations, other major draws are the emirate’s 30% cashback rebate for all productions and the burgeoning services and facilities offering that Abu Dhabi has worked hard to build over the past decade.

The neighbouring emirate of Dubai is also drawing international productions with its futuristic buildings and luxury hotel complexes, such as the palatial Atlantis, The Palm. There are plenty of locations to choose from and the weather is constantly good. It is also one of the safest places to shoot these days as it has put very strict rules in place from the start.

One of the most stunning locations just outside Dubai is Hatta, which offers massive desert mountains, with turquoise waters calmly resting between them at Hatta Dam. There’s also the Wasit Nature Reserve in Sharjah; the Hajar mountains; and the desolate Snoopy Island in the Emirate of Fujairah, where the mountains meet the sea.

Just be aware that a sub-tropical, arid climate dominates the United Arab Emirates. Summers tend to be hot and humid, and there’s only marginal respite in the winter months. Thunderstorms can also strike during the summer and sandstorms are an occasional threat, which can have a dramatic effect on visibility.

Permits

Permits are easy to get provided you have a local based production service provider, insists Tamba.

In Abu Dhabi, there are two classes of permits for filming: ground permits and aerial permits. While in Dubai, the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) is the sole entity authorised to issue media shooting permits.

Most locations are easily accessible. Price and permission depend on the location and the type of production. For more details on procedures and costs in Dubai, go to… http://www.dubaifilmcommission.ae/filming-in-dubai/how-to-film-in-dubai/permit-fees

The UAE requires an entire script to be approved by the relevant authorities, not just the segments to be filmed in the UAE.

Dubai’s main facility, Dubai Studio City, includes production services, three soundstages, backlots, water tanks, production offices and recording studios. Crew wise, the pool of freelancers with specialist skills, including make-up, visual effects and stunts, is growing, particularly in Abu Dhabi. 

The largest of the United Arab Emirates’ seven states, Abu Dhabi covers more than 67,000 square kilometres. It is a two-hour drive to Dubai and a 40-minute drive to the city centre from Abu Dhabi International Airport on a modern road system. Dubai is the second-biggest emirate at 3,900 square kilometres. It is an international transport hub, well connected to the rest of the world.

First people to contact

Abu Dhabi Hans Fraikin, film and television commissioner, Abu Dhabi Film and TV Commission: hans.fraikin@film.gov.ae

Dubai Iman Al Zaabi, assistant manager, Dubai Film and TV Commission: iman.alzaabi@filmdubai.gov.ae