Written by new-contact on Mar 11, 2014. Posted in Incentive News

UAE producers renew calls for formal Dubai filming incentives

Producers in the United Arab Emirates have renewed calls to have formal filming incentives launched in Dubai. Shane Martin of Boomtown Productions in Dubai and Ian Ross of Central Films Dubai were speaking at the Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity.

The Dubai Film and TV Commission was set up in 2012 to provide production support, but unlike Abu Dhabi the city does not yet offer a formal filming incentive.

“I think it’s very important for the local industry that they incentivise international productions to come here,” Martin told Gulf Business.

“Right now the world is filled with production markets and everybody is offering benefits. The UK has just introduced huge tax incentives and Ireland has got huge attractions. Los Angeles is dying as a production hub because all the Hollywood money is going where they get better deals.

“Another important aspect for the industry is that we need to have professional freelance actors and performers. It’s better in Lebanon and Egypt. It’s not sustainable for them here, but it is essential to develop this pool for this place to become a viable production hub.”

I think it’s very important for the local industry that they incentivise international productions to come here.

Shane Martin, Boomtown Productions

Added Ian Ross: “Dubai is not a particularly cheap place to set up or operate. So it is very difficult for freelance technicians to live here. Increasing the size of the freelance pool will also help enable companies to set up here with less staff than they would otherwise need to have.”

Only a few months ago a report commissioned by the Dubai Film and TV Commission recommended formal filming incentives to help the local production industry develop in the coming years.

Dubai Studio City offers state-of-the-art filming facilities, but the film commission still prefers to attract big-budget international productions by negotiating special incentive deals on a case-by-case basis.