Hollywood comes to the Middle East (page 2 of 2)

It's natural that people will want to make movies about it and show what's happening in these hot spots. And I think this happens to be the entrance to the region now, but eventually they will move on and start filming other things in the region as well," argues Whitaker.

Hollywood invasion

Nonetheless, the advantages the region has are its weather and diversity, and this is driving people to it. Recently, we've seen two giants opening up to the United Arab Emirates and this might just be the starting point for the film-making industry.

One major step happened in Dubai, with Paramount pictures partnering with the Ruwaad real estate company to develop a multi-faceted destination which will include a Paramount-branded theme park. It will incorporate a blend of Hollywood, Bollywood and Arabian movie content. So far no details have been released on where this will be located or when it will be completed.

Another strategic partnership is between Warner Bros, Aldar, and Abu Dhabi Media Company in September. The three will establish a theme park, hotel and multiple cinemas in Abu Dhabi. It will have the facilities to make movies in the region.

Warner Bros considers it a great opportunity to expand its local language film production business to a new region. To this end, a film production fund was established between Aldar and Warner Bros to develop and produce mutually agreed-upon, broad-appeal films. Also, Warner Bros will work with Abu Dhabi Media Company to develop and produce a slate of Arabic-language films for local and pan-Arabic distribution.

And with the biggest production companies in Hollywood showing interest in making both international and Arab movies in one of the Middle Eastern countries, the region will not then take long before it opens to a new area of growth.