WHAT OUR LOCAL FILM FIXERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FILMING IN DUBAI
Dubai is situated on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai shares borders with Abu Dhabi in the south, Sharjah in the northeast, and the Sultanate of Oman in the southeast.
Dubai has a hot desert climate. The region has two distinct seasons – winter and summer. Summer in Dubai begins around the last week of April and ends around the first week of October. This period is characterized by extremely hot weather, hot winds and high humidity. With an average high-temperature of 23.3°C (73.9°F) and an average low-temperature of 18.8°C (65.8°F), January is the coldest month in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Rainfall in Dubai is infrequent and does not last for a long period. It mostly rains during the winter period between November and March in the form of short downpours and an occasional thunderstorm. On average, rain falls only 25 days a year. The best time of year to film in Dubai is from November to February. Sea temperatures are a soul-warming 23C and an average of ten hours of sunshine per day makes it the perfect spot for winter sun
The predominant languages in the UAE are Arabic and English.
The UAE dirham is the official currency of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Although USD is widely accepted across all sectors in Dubai, it is advisable to convert home currency into Dirham for the ease of trade and saving money.
Dubai boasts a world-class infrastructure, well-maintained roads, excellent public transport and connectivity. The UAE has the best road network globally. According to the Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum for the year 2019, the UAE occupies the seventh position in the index of road quality.05 May 2021. Taxis are a good option and public transport is great. For half of the routes, a plane ticket is cheaper than a train ticket. On most routes, the further in advance you buy a ticket, the smaller the price difference. For routes on which budget airlines operate, the flights are cheaper than the trains.
Dubai has a really low crime rate. Violent crime is rare. You may get some petty theft and bag snatching in crowded areas but besides this, Dubai is safe to film in.
Dubai does not offer incentives but can give discretionary support on accommodation and travel
WHAT OUR LOCAL FILM FIXERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FILM LOCATIONS IN DUBAI
When filming on location in Dubai you will be required to work with a local production company. Dubai has its own thriving film industry that creates Arabic language movies that are exported across the Middle East. However, it’s becoming an increasingly popular spot for foreign crews to film, with a diverse range of movies. Dubai is an ultra-modern city with plenty of huge hotels, skyscrapers ,some of the best shopping locations in the world and wonderful local souks. Just outside the city there are vast, unspoilt areas and the city itself is surrounded by sprawling dessert. With sunshine all year round, and luxurious locations, it is certainly a film location worth considering.
Hatta Heritage Village is set amongst rocky mountain landscapes, just outside of Dubai’s busy city centre and has been designed to look exactly like a traditional Emirati village, making it ideal for historic productions.
Textile Souq is full of traditional features such as wooden arches and red-tiled floors. Coupled with lots of colourful stalls and the bustle of the many shoppers and traders it is an ideal location for anyone needing to film market scenes.
Deira Corniche is set on the waterfront with palm tree-lined streets and the backdrop of modern hotels; Deira Corniche is an ideal spot to capture the look of modern-day Dubai.
The World Islands and The Universe are constructed in the shape of their namesakes. Ski Dubai is an indoor snow skiing facility located in the Mall of the Emirates, where a short walk will take you from snow to hot desert sand. The Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system. The Green Planet building houses a vertical tropical rainforest. Dubai Miracle Garden is the world’s largest flower garden. Aquaventure Waterpark has an underwater slide (Leap of Faith) and free-fall slide (Poseidon’s Revenge). Wild Wadi Waterpark has a heated or cooled wave pool, two artificial surfing machines, and numerous water slides. The Musuem of the Future is a unique structure. The Dubai Frame is the world’s largest picture frame at 150 metres offering views of the modern and old city. Mohammed bin Rashid Library is another contemporary film location of note. As is the Dubai Opera building. The Dubai Gold Souk and Spice Souk are interesting locations. Al Fahidi Historical District is a beautiful location. The Dubai Museum is the oldest building in Dubai. The Satwa District is a lower-income area known for its ethnic diversity. The Meydan Racecourse accommodates over 60,000 spectators. The Al Qudra Cycle Track is a 100km track designed for cyclists. Dunes can be found within an hour of the city.
WHAT HOODLUM FILM FIXERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT PERMIT AND VISA REQUIREMENT WHEN FILMING IN DUBAI
LOCATION PERMITS
The Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) issues the permits for private and public locations. Dubai has strict permitting rules and foreign companies are not allowed to apply for permits without the endorsement of a local production company.
VISAS
Can be applied for online.
WHAT HOODLUM FILM FIXERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE TALENT WHEN FILMING IN DUBAI
Talent is non-union and buyouts are negotiable. Talent costs are by western standards quite competitive.Arabic is the official language although English is also widely spoken.Citizens are ethnic Emirati Arabs, although they only make up a small percentage of the people living in the Emirates. The majority are expats from South Asia, Egypt, Philippines, and Caucasians from all over the western world. As such, the Emirates offers a very good variety of locally based multicultural talent.
WHAT HOODLUM FILM FIXERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE WHEN FILMING IN DUBAI
Arri, Panavision, and RED equipment is available locally. All standard camera, grip and lighting equipment is available including more specialised equipment such as Russian Arm, Technocrane, and gyro heads. The Emirates is an ATA carnet country if you’re looking at bringing in your own gear. Drone equipment can only be rented from a local supplier that is registered with the General Civil Aviation Authority. It is not possible to bring in your own drone equipment.
