Abu Dhabi Film Commission has announced that it will increase its subsidy on film and television productions in the emirate from 30 to a minimum of 35 per cent next year.
The rebate rise, eligible to productions that apply for it from January 1, 2025, is part of a drive to expand the number of Hollywood, Bollywood and regional productions coming to the emirate and comes 11 years after the incentive programme was launched.
“I think we reached a point where we are ready for more projects,” Sameer Al Jaberi, head of Abu Dhabi Film Commission, told The National. “It’s time for Abu Dhabi to raise the bar.”
The move puts Abu Dhabi in line with the world’s most competitive rebate programmes, such as Ireland and British Columbia in Canada, which have each resulted in a huge increase in production.
Film production rebates are cashback schemes paid to production companies by the state, usually as a percentage of the company's qualified expenses.
More than 150 major projects have been filmed in Abu Dhabi since the initial incentive programme began in 2013, including Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Furious 7, and Dune: Part Two. Those productions have helped develop both the physical infrastructure needed for filming large-scale productions and the local talent that is now able to assist.
Khalid Khouri, industry development director of the Creative Media Authority, said: “When we started developing talent here 15 years ago, everyone wanted to be a director. Now that has changed and people are coming to us wanting to be camera operators, set designers, or even film accountants. It’s a clear sign of a maturing industry.”
In Khouri’s view, what has been particularly encouraging is the number of smaller, one-off partnerships with film studios that have developed into significant relationships.
“Major studio productions used to come for a few days to shoot and then leave. Now they’re coming sometimes for a full month only a couple years later,” added Khouri, alluding in particular to Abu Dhabi’s role in the Dune franchise from the first instalment to the second.
One reason for the timing of the Abu Dhabi announcement is the plan to open modern production facilities dubbed twofour54 Studios by this time next year. It will include soundstages, an exterior water tank and six standing sets.
Those facilities will complement the existing ecosystem, which consists of 800 locally-based media companies, 300 of which focus on production, and a freelancer talent pool of more than 1,000 people. There is also an increasing crop of prospective interns; a golden visa programme focused on film; and locations such as the Liwa desert and Louvre Abu Dhabi, which have been utilised by Bollywood productions like Bharat and Tiger Zinda Hai and Hollywood films such as 6 Underground.
Part of what has attracted international talent, such as Tom Cruise for Mission: Impossible, is the emirate’s ability to pull off projects that might be virtually impossible elsewhere, Al Jaberi explained.
“We have a really can-do attitude,” he added. “Anything that comes our way, we say, let’s make it happen. And we have the environment to do so – and the ability to execute it safety. We are ranked as the safest city in the world, and that brings a lot of productions our way. We have seen Abu Dhabi double for Indian cities in major Bollywood films such as Vikram Vedha, for example, that came to us because of the safety we ensured.”
The goal of both the increased rebate and new facilities is to ensure that there are projects filming throughout the year, so that they are less reliant on seasonal weather. “We want to close the gap throughout the year, for Hollywood, Bollywood and regional productions,” added Al Jaberi.
Al Jaberi and Khouri have now started discussions with international film studios about the rebate, which has already received a positive reaction.
“We have been receiving great messages and phone calls from the market,” says Khouri. “The excitement is high. This is going to be really good for us. We’re so excited about it.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
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%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Star%20Wars%3A%20Episode%20I%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Phantom%20Menace
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Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
MATCH STATS
Wolves 0
Aston Villa 1 (El Ghazi 90 4' pen)
Red cards: Joao Moutinho (Wolves); Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
Man of the match: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)
ROUTE%20TO%20TITLE
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Company%20profile
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Results
Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.
Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).
Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.
Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. 
