FILMING IN ABU DHABI
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
It’s easy to see why Abu Dhabi is fast becoming one of the leading choices for international filmmakers. The city
and the rest of the Emirate offer an incredible variety of locations that include everything from beaches, oceans,
coastline, desert, oases, and iconic Arabian architecture to luxurious hotels, towering skyscrapers, beautiful
parks, modern cityscape and urban complexes. With more developments being completed every year, the list of
locations to shoot in can accommodate every budget and every creative requirement.
MOVIE-MAKING IN
ABU DHABI
HOLLYWOOD AND BOLLYWOOD
EMBRACE ABU DHABI
Some of Hollywood’s biggest and best-known studios and movie franchises have chosen to film in Abu Dhabi:
• Furious 7
• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (in cinemas December 2015)
• Deliver us from Evil (2014)
Even Bollywood, India’s larger than life film industry, is taking advantage of what Abu Dhabi offers, with two
major films produced in Abu Dhabi in the past 12 months:
• Bang Bang (the official remake of Hollywood film Knight and Day)
• Baby (an espionage action thriller)
And let’s not forget television - Abu Dhabi has welcomed some small screen favourites to the city as well:
• Bold and the Beautiful
• BBC’s Top Gear
• Sesame Street (one of the world’s most beloved children’s show chose Abu Dhabi as the home of its Arabic
language version “Iftah Ya Ya Sim”)
WHY FILMMAKERS
ARE CHOOSING ABU DHABI
Abu Dhabi has become the Middle Eastern city of choice for filmmakers - in fact, Abu Dhabi was the only Middle
Eastern city to be named in P3 Magazine’s list of top international filming locations in 2014.
Film and TV production professionals know that Abu Dhabi is a production-ready destination for projects of all
sizes. Abu Dhabi offers a generous 30% cashback incentive, location diversity, award-winning studio space and
crew, and professional support to make even the biggest Hollywood blockbuster production a true success.
Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Abu Dhabi Business Hub, Building B, ICAD, P.O. Box 77809,
Musaffah, Abu Dhabi, UAE, T +971 2 4012 701, F +971 2 401 1701, [email protected]
WHERE EAST
MEETS WEST
ABU DHABI
WHERE EAST MEETS WEST
SIX THINGS
YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ABU DHABI
30% CASH BACK
REBATE ON PRODUCTION IN ABU DHABI*
Abu Dhabi is a vibrant, multi-cultural city, and a truly international capital with the best of Arabic heritage and
hospitality. Abu Dhabi is host to several prestigious international events such as the Etihad Airways Formula 1™
Grand Prix and the Volvo Ocean Race. Abu Dhabi also boasts a variety of outstanding landscapes and
locations including stunning coastline, wild desert, amazing oases, and iconic architecture - all under
year-round blue skies.
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The Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC) administers the highly successful 30% production rebate scheme, the
only cash-back incentive of its kind in the region. The rebate applies to any of the following productions that are
filmed in Abu Dhabi:
• Feature Films
• Television Dramas and Series
• Commercials
• Music Videos
• Other TV formats such as lifestyle, reality, game shows and entertainment programmes
As the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is home to a population of 2.5 million people (2014).
Despite being an oil-rich nation (Abu Dhabi ranks sixth on the list of largest oil reserves in the world), non-oil
and gas industries contribute 48% of the UAE’s total GDP (2014). Abu Dhabi is consistently named as one of
the safest cities in the Middle East. Although Arabic is the official language in the UAE, English is widely spoken
with the majority of international business transactions conducted in English.
In just over 50 years, Abu Dhabi has been transformed into a thriving 21st century city and society.
Unknown to most, Abu Dhabi is archipelagic with nearly 200 islands dotted along its coast.
Abu Dhabi enjoys a subtropical climate with sunshine almost every day.
Abu Dhabi is soon to be home to the largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions, including
the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi - all designed by awardwinning international architects and all already under construction.
5. Often mistaken as the presidential palace, Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s most majestic
and opulent hotels. It is decorated with gold leaf and marble, and hung with almost 1,000 Swarovski
crystal chandeliers. The hotel plays a starring role in Furious 7.
6. Abu Dhabi offers fantastic leisure activities. Everything from scenic desert safaris to driving an Aston
Martin on the Yas Marina Formula 1™ circuit to visiting Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor
theme park and home of the world’s fastest roller-coaster.
The 30% cash rebate also applies to post-production, digital content services, and visual effects (PDV) services
for projects shot inside or outside Abu Dhabi, as well for travel and accommodation including airfares booked on
Etihad Airways.
ADFC also enables filming at the Emirate’s most iconic and versatile locations and helps with choosing locations,
script clearance, permits, and visas. It also provides access to companies within the UAE who provide production
services, equipment, and crew. Learn more about the full scope of ADFC’s services at www.film.gov.ae
*Terms and conditions apply.
ON THE ABU DHABI SET OF
FURIOUS 7
• Director James Wan, along with cast members Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris”
Bridges, and Natalie Emmanuel, visited Abu Dhabi to shoot scenes for the film in April 2014.
• The production spent over a week filming in Abu Dhabi.
• The stunt sequence of the car jumping between the towers was filmed at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.
• The visual effects team came to Abu Dhabi in November 2013 to commence preparation for the scene.
• 9 Emirati interns were given the opportunity to work on Furious 7, gaining invaluable experience from
Hollywood professionals.