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twofour54, the commercial arm of the Media Zone Authority-Abu Dhabi, participated at CABSAT 2014’s NAB conference at Dubai World Trade Centre to discuss Abu Dhabi’s emergence as leading production hub.

“Abu Dhabi is fast becoming a leading regional television and film production hub,” Paul Baker, the Executive Director at twofour54 intaj said.

Mr Baker was speaking in the session, ‘Developing Abu Dhabi as a leading film and TV production destination and facilitating the development of a sustainable local film industry’. He said international production companies coming to Abu Dhabi are attracted by integrated production services and facilities, a growing pool of local crew, and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s 30% production rebate in the emirate.

Twofour Arabia, the local arm of UK award-winning production company Twofour and a  partner at the twofour54 media zone campus, was commissioned by Abu Dhabi Media to produce eight new television programmes and utilised twofour54 intaj facilities to deliver the shows. Mr. Baker elaborated that this is an example of the collaboration of companies based in Abu Dhabi resulting in world-class productions.

“We have seen several local production companies emerging in the UAE,” Mr. Baker said. “Young Emirati filmmaker Amal Al-Agroobi started off as a creative lab community member at twofour54. She received support, won awards and started her own production company. This is a great example of how Abu Dhabi is helping develop young talent.”

Mr. Baker also highlighted how Abu Dhabi Film commission’s incentive scheme and twofour54 intaj’s production services have attracted regional and international productions to Abu Dhabi, including BBC’s Top Gear, the Hollywood thriller from Sony Pictures Entertainment Deliver us from Evil, Universal’s Fast and Furious 7, and the Syrian dramaHammam Shami.

CABSAT, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, partnered with NAB Show to arrange the conference featuring speeches, industry reports, technical programmes and panel discussions focusing on changes and emerging technology in the broadcasting industry. CABSAT 2014 includes sessions about the global transition to digital broadcasting.

Eithne Treanor, special correspondent for the Middle East at CNBC Arabia and Founder of Etreanor Media, moderated the session. Reem Nouss, the Executive Producer at Twofour Arabia, and Amal Al Agroobi, from Alagroobi Films, took part.

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