“The idea of creating the Commission was to introduce a proper framework to control and manage local production and give local companies an edge,” explained Jamal Al Sharif, chairman, Dubai Film and TV Commission.
The Commission requires international companies filming in Dubai to hire a local production company. “We’re not stipulating percentages of local hires as Dubai’s a free market, but we are actively encouraging local companies, even universities to engage their students with film units as interns or volunteers.”
In addition to simplifying the process of securing permits to film, the Commission serves as a one-stop shop for international film crews and has also regularised the private location fees that were earlier unregulated. “You want to film at iconic Dubai landmarks? We’ve fixed the rate for all private venues
[such as Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Arabian Ranches] at AED15,000 per day (that is roughly Rs 2,25,000 per day) and we sort out the permissions,” added Al Sharif.
“There’s no industry if we can’t help the local film-makers. The immediate strategy is to help them meet with the right fund sources and introduce more training and talent development programmes and of course, the goal of attracting high-profile international projects is also to involve local crews and increase opportunities for them,” he said.
- Jameel Al Sharif, Chairman Dubai Film and TV Commission
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