I must confess that, in the past, I have not been exceedingly fond of the quietitude that is representative of Abu Dhabi. The bold, brash swagger of Dubai suits my personality more than the serenity that big brother Abu Dhabi exudes. Having said that, Abu Dhabi is an “acquired taste”. You have to let it […]
I must confess that, in the past, I have not been exceedingly fond of the quietitude that is representative of Abu Dhabi. The bold, brash swagger of Dubai suits my personality more than the serenity that big brother Abu Dhabi exudes. Having said that, Abu Dhabi is an “acquired taste”. You have to let it course through your veins slowly over time to appreciate what the UAE capital brings to the production and broadcast industry.
While Dubai is quick with its installations, and seemingly at the forefront, I like the quiet way in which Abu Dhabi is gradually building its production vision. The Syrian sets we had the pleasure of witnessing at twofour54s intaj studios last month was one testimony to that fact. They were absolutely stunning and nothing akin to what we are wont to seeing in this part of the world.
Syria had some really tough times this last year but it is also the pot from which a lot of quality Arabic content has been produced in the past to attract audiences, especially during Ramadan. To see one of Syrias production houses bring its entire team to Abu Dhabi to shoot one of its biggest productions Hammam Shami, a 30-episode Ramadan series is huge testament to the faith it has shown in what the capital can offer in terms of technology, crew, accommodation and yes, incentives. A 30% cash rebate was a big part of the appeal for the Syrian production house.
But thats just one example. Look at the Peeta Planet brothers. Their social travel series, which is presently broadcasting on Dubai One, has become a huge hit among locals, expatriates and the global social media community. They are another shining example of a team that has received development fund from twofour54 ibtikar. What an example of how much can be achieved if Abu Dhabi and Dubai join hands more often. Thats a story we shall cover in the next issue of BroadcastPro ME.
In the meantime, two weeks from now, our team will be on a flight to BroadcastAsia in Singapore and I cannot contain my excitement. More technology, more networking, and more fun on the road. Follow us on @BroadcastProME to receive regular updates from the show and from the Middle East.
