Twenty-two thousand square feet of land within the highly prestigious and mammoth Dubailand is now in the spotlight as the proposed home for yet another innovative “city” in Dubai: The Dubai Studio City (DSC).
Once complete, will be occupied by a spectrum of production and post-production studios, sound stages, workshops, back lots, stage areas, offices, a business centre and a world-class infrastructure.
The project that has been planned following the success of similar free zone models such as the Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Knowledge Village, will offer a world-class infrastructure to cater to companies from across the industry value-chain.
Dubai Studio City; which was announced in February – will feature a broadcast centre housing offices and post-production studios and a business centre for freelancers. It will also have a production studio complex that will accommodate pre-built studios, sound stages, workshops, back lots and stage areas.
The general gamut of services expected to be offered by the DSC include:
• Production: sound stages: television and film; back lots and sets; water tanks; recording studios; production offices; ancillary services: green room facilities, prop shops; equipment rental, trailers and transportation, and catering facilities;
• Post-production facilities: laboratories and telecine; printing facilities; online and offline editing suites; animation and SFX studios; and specialised sound studios;
• Location management services:
• Warehouses and workshops: set construction workshops; stunt shops and special gear; warehouses; equipment rental and storage of props sets;
• Film institutes and education centres: Film schools;
• Offices and real estate offering pre-built offices; land lease; broadcast and freelance centres; and playout facilities;
•Accommodation: residential complex and a hotel; and
•Satellite facilities.
Owing to its location within Dubailand, the DSC will offer producers a tremendous choice of outdoor locales for filming, including the Dubai Sports City, Entertainment World, Eco Tourism World, Autodrome, Arabian Ranches, Aqua Dubai and Dubai Bazaar, says a spokesperson for Dubai Holdings, the promoter.
In addition, the versatile landscape of Dubai allows for location shooting ranging from desert dunes and spectacular beaches, to the skyline of the modern city.
Moreover, the city will provide the same benefits that business partners at the Dubai Media City enjoy. Dubai Media City is one of the initial free zones planned four years ago, within the Technology and Media Free Zone. Its benefits include 100 per cent tax exemption, ownership of business and repatriation of capital and profits, serviced offices, land on lease, a one-stop-shop of support service and simplified licensing and incorporation. Companies at the Dubai Studio City will even have the option of building their own studios and facilities in custom-sized plots.
Dubai Studio City has already evoked strong interest from several companies in and around Dubai. The first phase will be ready by the first quarter of 2006.
“The film and broadcast production sector holds considerable promise for the UAE and the region. There has been growing interest from the Hollywood and Bollywood film industries in Dubai as a shooting location,” says the spokesperson.
Commenting on the potential for the new project, the spokesperson continues: “Globally the film industry is expected to grow to $87.6 billion (Dh322 billion) in 2005 and the share of Europe, the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent will be about $22.6 billion (Dh83 billion). The Middle East region alone produced 115 films in 2003. Of these, 76 came from Iran and 22 from Egypt. India produces more than 1,000 movies every year. Dubai is well positioned to tap into the rapid growth of the film industry in Europe, the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.
“The objective of the DSC is to facilitate the creation and development of a world-class infrastructure and environment in Dubai to foster the growth of the television, film and music industries in the region.
“Today, there are more than 120 channels operated by 40 broadcast companies based in Dubai Media City. Currently only about 20 per cent of the production work of these companies is done in Dubai. As much as 80 per cent of these companies are looking to do their production in Dubai itself.”
The project recently received a shot in the arm when Filmworks, a leading Dubai-based film production company, announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DSC to lease land for establishing a new custom-built production facility.
The Filmworks facility will comprise of a big studio complex housing a number of independent companies that can complement each other and will also include a dividable sound stage/studio built to international specifications.
“At present, we are negotiating with partner companies to finalise overall capacity and size,” a spokesperson for Filmworks comments.
