Dubai is betting on its exotic image to lure Indian, Arab and Western film productions to a tax-free studio complex, officials said.

The latest initiative from the Dubai Holding Group, Dubai Studio City, aims to build a large cluster of companies from across the industry value-chain. These include production companies, support service providers offering production and post-production facilities, animation studios and services such as dubbing, makeup, costume designing, stage designing and building, casting, telnet agencies as well as telecine and lab facilities.
The City 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 infrastructure for the first phase of the project will be completed by the first quarter of 2006. Companies can build their own studios and facilities in custom-sized plots in the city. The cluster will also house film and television schools and academies and companies providing location shooting, location management services and music recording services.
The announcement of the Dubai Studio City initiative comes on the heels of the rapid expansion of the broadcast and film sector in DMC as well as the success of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) held in December 2004.
The first stage of the Dubai Studio City will be up and running by the first quarter of next year, with an initial government investment of Dh400 million ($109 million) that will help build modern infrastructure at the location.
DSC will be built within the Dubailand complex and will feature a broadcast centre with offices and post-production studios and a centre for freelancers. It will also have a Production Studio Complex that will accommodate pre-built studios, sound stages, workshops, backlots and stage areas.
“Studio City will provide a world-class technical infrastructure, as well as the required support services to establish the industry such as location management services and business centre for freelancers,” said Dr Ameenah Al Rostamani, director of Dubai Studio City.