Abu Dhabi Film Commission Introduces Enhanced Rebate System for Film and TV Productions

Under the newly enhanced rebate system, the maximum financial assistance cap is being raised from $5 million to $10 million.

The Abu Dhabi Film Commission has unveiled updated criteria aimed at enabling film and television productions to receive up to 50% cashback. This new rebate system will take effect on January 1, 2025.

The revised system incorporates a points-based mechanism to determine the cashback amount available to productions. For instance, productions showcasing Abu Dhabi will earn 20 points, while those that emphasize UAE history and culture will receive 10 points. Additionally, productions that conduct post-production activities within the emirate will gain another 10 points. A television series or program filmed entirely in Abu Dhabi will also earn 20 points. Furthermore, productions can earn an extra 20 points by hiring Emiratis for specific key roles, such as writer, director, stunt coordinator, stunt performer, or lead cast.

Feature films can accumulate one point for each day of principal filming in Abu Dhabi, with a maximum of 60 points available. Productions invited by the commission to create marketing content can earn up to 30 points.

The rebate percentages are structured as follows: productions that gather 10 to 14 points will receive a 37.5% rebate, while those with 15 to 39 points will see an additional 2.5% increase. Productions earning between 40 to 69 points will receive a 42.5% rebate, and those with 70 to 84 points will get 45%. Finally, productions that achieve 85 points or more will qualify for the full 50% rebate. The overall financial assistance cap has been increased from $5 million to $10 million under this enhanced rebate system.

This new rebate initiative follows the enhanced rebates introduced in October 2024, which raised the subsidy for productions in the emirate from 30% to 35%.

Sameer Al Jaberi, head of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, stated, “We listened to the feedback from producers and our leadership on how we can enhance the rebate program to increase mutual benefits. Our goal is to create a win-win situation for producers, filmmakers, and Abu Dhabi as a jurisdiction.”

The updated criteria aim to attract international productions to leverage the local creative talent pool. Since the inception of the incentive program in 2013, over 170 major projects have been filmed in Abu Dhabi, including titles like Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), Furious 7 (2015), and Dune: Part Two (2024). These productions have significantly contributed to developing the necessary infrastructure for large-scale filming and nurturing local talent.

Khalid Khouri, industry development director at the Creative Media Authority in Abu Dhabi, added, “We’ve been nurturing talent for years now, and we expect to see these individuals being hired in productions after gaining valuable experience.”

The enhanced rebate scheme is being launched just months before the opening of twofour54 Studios, a large complex featuring soundstages and six standing sets. This facility will complement the existing ecosystem, which includes 800 local media companies, 300 of which focus on production, along with a freelance talent pool exceeding 1,000 individuals.

Tags

Abu Dhabi Film Commission, UAE film production

Person

Sameer Al Jaberi, Khalid Khouri

Company Names

Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Creative Media Authority, twofour54 Studios

Titles

Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Furious 7, Dune: Part Two, Sarab

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.