Hollywood production firm to set up film city in RAK

CEO of Mirage Holdings FZCO, Michelle Nickelson, signed the deal with RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA) CEO, Dr Khater Massaad for the project recently.

"Mirage Holdings FZCO has been licensed to operate the entire Film and Media City as a UAE Free Zone. To our knowledge, we are the first
foreign, private company to be granted permission to operate a full Free Zone of such large dimensions. The Mirage Studio complex sits on 480 acres of exceptional real estate just off the new Emirates Highway in RAK and is a short 25 minute drive to Dubai International Airport.
In addition to the production studio, it will have an entertainment shopping center, villas, apartments and office space for rent, a golf
course and polo field. The total cost of the project will be close to USD 1 billion", said Michelle Nickelson.

Mirage Holdings FZCO is closely associated with Manex Entertainment, the visual effects studio which won back to back Academy Awards for the films, `What Dreams May Come' and `The Matrix'.

"With Manex, there was a brilliant design team and with Mirage, we have members of the same team on board. Visual effects are becoming
extremely expensive, with several $200 million plus budget films coming out this year. The biggest cost is not the stars, it is the
effects. By being able to fabricate visual effects in RAK using top designers in the US, everyone wins", she added.

Dr Khater Massaad, Advisor to the RAK Crown Prince and CEO of RAKIA, said that RAK Media City has issued free zone licenses to more than 20 companies which include two publishing companies looking at business publications, three television channels, designers, event organizers, advertising agencies and IT based operators, ever since its launch in January 2006.

"Under the visionary leadership and guidance of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ras Al Khaimah has been witnessing tremendous progress
in all fields and this new project will mark a major milestone in its onward surge", Dr Massaad added.

He said that three films were shot in RAK last year and all of them have been hits. These include `36 China Town', `Lakshmi', and `Deewane
Hue Pagal', all from India. Sultan Ali Lakhani, a leading businessman from Asia has invested AED 150 million in a television port and up- linking facility which is attracting audio and film studios in large number to RAK including news agencies.