Twofour54 also offered rent relief to 115 small- and medium- enterprises (SMEs) through special initiatives.
Twofour54 worked with the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, the National Media Council and the Government of Abu Dhabi, to ensure that production continued safely on $100 million worth of projects during the lockdown announced during the Covid-19 outbreak. The media industry was deemed an essential services provider by the government and was, therefore, exempted from movement restrictions, provided organisations and individuals follow all necessary precautionary measures.
Filming on Inheritance, the Arab world’s first soap opera and a co-production between MBC Studios, twofour54 and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, therefore continued during this period. In addition, twofour54 noted that such productions created business opportunities for media firms that supported these projects and led to a 75% increase in the number of freelance licenses issued in Q1 2020 compared to the same period last year.
Twofour54 also offered support to 115 small- and medium- enterprises (SMEs) through rent relief initiatives.
Michael Garin, CEO of twofour54 Abu Dhabi, said: “A strong media sector is considered to be vital to both the economy and society of the UAE, which is why it is seen as a strategically critical sector for the future of Abu Dhabi. twofour54’s business agility, backed by close coordination with ADQ, our holding company, the Abu Dhabi Government has enabled the continuation of a significant volume of productions that are not only driving the local media sector, but also maintaining Abu Dhabi’s position as a magnet for regional and global productions.”
Katrina Anderson, Director of Commercial Services of twofour54 Abu Dhabi, added: “The pandemic has really demonstrated the UAE’s ability to protect people and businesses. It has shown that the country is a safe and stable haven not just within the region but even compared with more developed nations.
“Supporting our community has always been our top priority at twofour54, and SMEs are at the heart of our support efforts. We are working tirelessly to provide the services and facilities, whether physical or digital, they need to navigate these unprecedented times and come out the other side even more creative and resilient. We want them to succeed in withstanding economic challenges and to continue producing high quality content that keeps the UAE public informed, educated and entertained.”
