Abu Dhabi to offer film producers up to 50% cashback from January 1, 2025
Abu Dhabi is bringing movie-makers to the UAE by giving them 50 per cent cashback rebate, the Creative Media Authority and film Commission of the emirate said on Monday.
Cashback rebate of upto 50 per cent on production and post-production cost in-market costs for international, regional and local production units will be increased from 35 per cent to 50 per cent on certain eligibility conditions and point-based system for production companies.
The new rebate is applicable to all qualifying productions starting 1 January 2025, with expanded qualifying formats, higher financial project cap and a more simplified and enhanced process to develop, support and bring strategic investment into the film and TV production sector in Abu Dhabi.
Back in October, the baseline had been bumped from 30 per cent to 35 per cent.
Producers and companies will receive the cashback if they are eligible for any of the following:
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Utilisation of Emirati actors and Emirati production staff like Directors, Writers, and Other Film work.
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Creators who create Emirati heritage, culture and spirit content.
Enhanced rebate points system
Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s upgraded rebate will include another uplift on top of new 35 per cent baseline to elicit a maximum 50 per cent aggregate rebate on in-market production and post-production cost upon achieving new standards and having ADFC’s full and absolute approval.
The uplift is a points-based system in which productions between 10 and 14 points get a 2.5 per cent uplift, in addition to the base 35 per cent, to a 15 per cent uplift on the base for productions 85 and higher.
The following can get production companies extra points:
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Content about UAE national history, culture and identity.
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Full post production works done in Abu Dhabi.
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Having a main unit production in Abu Dhabi for a feature film.
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Produce content using local Emirati talent and/or shooting a whole TV series in the emirate.
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You can know more about the point system and criteria at film.gov.ae.
New eligible formats
With the rebate, additional production formats like reality TV, games shows, short films and animations will also be eligible from 1 January 2025.
The growth in formats adds to the categories of feature films, television shows and programmes and TV spots that have been supported since rebate was introduced in 2013.
New higher rebate caps
The rebate program will also raise limits on the amount of total FDI production companies in Hollywood, Bollywood, Arab world and beyond can receive from ADFC. Qualifying feature films, for instance, will see this bump up of Abu Dhabi Qualifying Production Expenditure (ADQPE) from $5 million to $10 million.
Research indicates that the travel of visiting production crews is extremely valuable to the local economy through transport, logistics and hoteling but it creates unparalleled showcasing potential for the destination and hence many sectors such as tourism.
Refined rebate process
A rebate enhancement is that the estimated timing for the rebate itself is now being compressed. The interim certificate expiration time has been extended from 60 to 90 days – 30 extra days for production teams to start principal photography in Abu Dhabi, 120 extra days of discretion.
When the last certificate is issued towards the end of the rebate process, paid funds will arrive for producers in 30 business days – from 60 business days earlier – shortening the already-fast time for the production teams.
Sameer Al Jaberi, Head of Abu Dhabi Film Commission said: "I am an Emirati, the head of Abu Dhabi’s film commission and I am delighted that the new rebate policy will specifically reward those who encourage Emirati talent – on and offscreen – in the field of film and production. Thanks to these incentives, I anticipate more and more Emirati stories, written by Emiratis and told by Emiratis, that will be beyond borders and that support the Emirati cultural tradition for the future." "With these incentives, we will see an increase in Emirati stories, written by Emiratis and told by Emiratis."
The much increased rebate will pay for more than 800 regional media companies (300 production-based), 1,000 freelancer talent pool, young people who are seeking training and internships and the new golden visa programme.
There are more than 170 leading films that came to Abu Dhabi over the past couple of years such as Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Disney, Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Yash Raj Films, Tips, Clacket, Eagle Films and Universal Pictures.
The movies filmed in Abu Dhabi are Dune, Dune: Part Two, F1, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 6 Underground, Furious 7, Bollywood movies like Vikram Vedha, Tiger Zinda Hai and Bharat.
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