Tom Cruise done, Vin Diesel in, who's next... Dubai is new destination Hollywood

Go on, admit it. That scene in ‘Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol’ is probably seared in the minds of all those who didn’t close their eyes in fear, as Tom Cruise swung himself on a harness around Burj Khalifa.
 
The images of him perches atop the world’s tallest building was simply an added bonus for the emirate, which could not have asked for a better celebrity brand ambassador from Hollywood who would bring such publicity gain to Dubai’s topography for filmmaking.
 
In recent weeks, ‘Fast and Furious’ star Vin Diesel has set the rumour mills churning once again that has firmly placed Dubai at center stage when the actor made the announcement in a media interview that the seventh installment of the franchise will be headed to the Middle East.
 
If such is the case, few argue that Dubai isn’t geared and ready for a Hollywood onslaught.
 
Rumours mills are abuzz that not just the adrenaline-charged thriller, but two other big production houses will be flying down reps into the city shortly on a scouting mission.
 
Is this surprising? Not if the Dubai Film and TV Commission, along with Dubai Studio City, have their way.
 
Earlier, Dubai Studio City Executive Director Jamal Al Sharif told Emirates 24|7 that the emirate’s range of benefits was a top draw with filmmakers.
 
“Dubai offers a range of benefits for prospective partners including being a safe destination, logistical advantages and a 100 per cent tax free environment,” he said. “The enhanced ease of operation that our Location Approval Services (LAS) provides has proved popular among the industry.”
 
According to statistics released by Dubai Studio City earlier, on average they receive 100 shooting applications per month.
 
TV’s Apprentices zoom in
 
However, the influx of filmmakers isn’t limited to Hollywood alone.
 
Earlier this week, an episode of the current season of ‘The Apprentice UK’ featured Dubai in all its glory, as the candidates were flown down to the emirate to perform their tasks.
 
Airing on BBC One, Lord Sugar informed them, ‘in the almost – finished foyer of a new multimillion pound hotel, the candidates discover their task: find and secure items needed for the hotel at the lowest possible price’, said the organisers in a statement.
 
One team tries to use local knowledge to their advantage by scouring the souks, while others head to a mall to track down the items fast.
 
Back in 2009, celebrity heiress, Paris Hilton had jetted into the emirate to film her reality show, ‘My New BFF Dubai’, which fascinated many a viewer, and angered several in the sheer frivolousness of a reality TV show that saw the American party girl out on the prowl for a new ‘Best Friend Forever’.
 
The show was embroiled in controversy before finally airing in 2011; production house Lionsgate Television claimed co-producers at Uniqon Emirates had originally signed a written agreement, worth $8 million, to co-produce and distribute ‘Paris Hilton’s Dubai BFF’ in the Middle East but failed to pay more than $4.7m to cover the production and distribution costs.
 
In 2011, it was another reality TV star Kim Kardashian’s turn to jet into the emirate where segments of her show ‘Kourtney and Kim Take New York’ were filmed.

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