Written by new-contact on May 21, 2012. Posted in Incentive News

Abu Dhabi launches 30% location filming incentive at Cannes Film Festival

Abu Dhabi has launched a 30% rebate as a location filming incentive. Starting from September 2012, it will be available for features, TV shows, documentaries, commercials and music videos.

Big-budget productions routinely scout the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the region sees more filming from Bollywood productions, in recent times the region has secured only about one high-profile US shoot a year because of the lack of formal filming incentives.

Wayne Borg is Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of major production company and studio twofour54, the firm that has launched the incentive with the Abu Dhabi Film Commission: “Our new incentive scheme is unique in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and focussed on attracting international and regional productions to Abu Dhabi.

Our new incentive scheme is unique in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and focussed on attracting international and regional productions to Abu Dhabi.

Wayne Borg, twofour54

“This initiative reflects the culmination of our efforts to put in place all the key ingredients to reinforce our position as the regional hub and first choice, go-to place for producers. This is our commitment to the film and TV production industry.”

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol was among the most recent big-budget projects to film in the UAE, shooting in Dubai for several weeks in 2010. The project was supported by six different municipal agencies and was rumoured to have received a one-off rebate payment too.

With the announcement of a much sought-after formal filming incentive, Abu Dhabi could see its international profile soar.