IBE Feature | Focus on Dubai


DUBAI CONTINUES TO ROCKET AHEAD


Chris Forrester, Journalist and Independent Technology Consultant, looks at the Middle East’s broadcasting oasis as it continues to mature and flourish through imported and local talent.


It is something of a cliché to talk of construction and cranes, of endless building projects, new highways and the boom-town feel that is Dubai. The trouble is that despite a few years of uncertainty the clichéd statements all remain true.


Chris Forrester Correspondent, IBE


Indeed, by any measure the boom in Dubai – at least as far as broadcasting is concerned – continues. But the city has also matured. Some broadcasting players have consolidated, while the growth of so-called vanity channels seems never-ending. Nilesat, for example, is now carrying almost 1000 channels, and later this summer Nilesat’s European ‘partner’ Eutelsat will launch a new satellite 7 degrees West to cope with increased demand.


But there’s more; it is in the tangible proof that Dubai’s real estate investment schemes such as Dubai Media City (which opened in 2001) and Dubai Studio City (which saw building start in 2006) grew out of the Dubai desert and have created thousands of jobs, and some 1800 businesses, creating many opportunities for broadcasters – and employees - wishing to base themselves in the Emirate.


And when you can list a number of Hollywood ‘A’ list stars as part of your recent movie-making guest list then it is right that the world increasingly takes notice of what happening in the town. Whether it is Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Eva Longoria, Dubai’s locations are


10 | May/June 2013 | ibeconnects.com


increasingly appealing to film- makers, the stars and even the accountants!


The latest addition to Dubai’s portfolio of delights is a brand- new 15,000 sq ft sound stage which is being fitted out for occupation by MBC’s production arm. Built under supervision from Los Angeles-based Bastien and Associates Inc, it is complete with dressing rooms, set-building facilities and workshops and when it opens for business will be equipped for 4K multi-camera shooting. Next door is another giant stage, this time of 25,000 sq ft. More are planned, and are accompanied by mid-range hotels for visiting technicians and other support staff.


Jamal Al Sharif is MD of both the Media and Studio City, and is also chairman of the Dubai Film & TV Commission. He is a high-profile supporter of the complete media sector, looking at how to make Dubai more competitive and ensuring that it is positioned as a TV, film, production and creative hub. Key to his strategy was the establishing on a ‘one-stop permit shop’ in the shape of its Location Approval Services which now has considerable influence on local suppliers, police and such like, as well as more than a little clout when it comes to getting discounts on airline seats and hotel rooms.


Al Sharif explained: “We have been very lucky winning good support from India, which is shooting more and more projects with us. Same with the


Without breaking confidences I think you’ll see movement in terms of pay-TV in the region before too long


Chris Forrester | Correspondent


Americans with movies like The Bourne Legacy as well as Mission Impossible 4 (MI4). Our objective is not simply to attract high- profile movies such as these but also to boost the amount they spend here. For example, a movie might only shoot here for two or three days. But the pre-shoot preparation, set building and such like might take many weeks. And we like that. For ‘Bourne’ they brought in seven heads of department, and another 70 or 80 hired locally. For MI4 they had about 150 high-end staff” but ended up with around 300 locals. The full crew was nearer 450 people, and the shoot was for a month but with two months prep. It was a great project for us.


“For the past 10-15 years we have tried to position ourselves with the various clusters, first with the Internet City, then with biotech, industrial, and so on,”


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