Dubai to turn into blockbuster town

Jamal al Sharif, Chairman of Dubai Film and TV Commission (pictured right), credits films like Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, with drawing the world’s attention to Dubai as a shooting location

With its futuristic skyline and picturesque desert landscape, it’s no surprise that more and more directors have been turning to Dubai for their latest film and TV projects.
Whether it’s shooting from the world’s tallest tower or the city’s oldest souk, there’s a definite charm to be found here and Hollywood and Bollywood have been taking notice.
But getting things done in Dubai can seem daunting for production crews who have never shot here before, so in order to continue attracting major projects to town, a bit of in-house organisation was needed. That’s where the newly launched ‘Film Dubai Production Guide’ comes in.
Launched by the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC), the directory will help film productions navigate through the seemingly endless maze of permits, locations, talent and just about any other detail that comes along with filming here. Whether it’s for an epic blockbuster film or a small reality TV show, Dubai is trying to make things easier for anyone looking to use the city as a backdrop to their productions.
We caught up with Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman of Dubai Film and TV Commission, to get a better understanding of what this guide will do for the future of Dubai’s entertainment industry.