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Deal to make documentary film on Dubai signed

DUBAI - Alarabiya Productions yesterday announced a joint venture with Dubai 2003 to collaborate in the production of a special television documentary and related materials that will capture the vignette of a day's life in Dubai. The film is to be called Dubai 24 Hours.

The television project, which is being undertaken under the directive of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE Minister of Defence, will celebrate Dubai's heart and soul by using the finest still photographers and videographers and the film will be shown to worldwide television audience.

Dubai 2003 general coordinator Ibrahim Belselah and Alarabiya Productions managing director Nasib Bitar have signed the agreement for the project. Bitar said the project would involve an investment of $1 million and includes a TV documentary of one hour on Dubai, a coffee table book on the emirate and a 90- minute video on the DVD format. He said Dubai 24 Hours will be written and directed by Michael Tobias, who has won of the Emmy Award for his previous work that included Ireland 24 Hours.

Tobias has also used the same technique in creating documentaries for India, Hungary, Romania, Arizona, Beijing, Tokyo and Moscow.

The documentary will be shown on satellite TV, including the PBS, BBC and Discovery channels. The production is expected to commence this month.

Bitar said: "The production will involve several teams of photographers, journalists and TV camera crews being sent out to capture the pulse of Dubai starting from either midnight or early dawn."

Belselah described the project will help create a spectacular documentary of a day in the life of Dubai. It will give international audiences a flavour of what Dubai and the UAE have to offer the world. He added that Dubai 2003 is looking forward to the film being broadcast on television screens across the world in advance of the annual meetings in September.

"Dubai 2003 is taking a financial stake in this project as part of our ongoing role to ensure that the UAE is promoted as a business and cultural centre around the world and to ensure that we give our country the highest possible international profile. Elements of Dubai 24 Hours will also include features on Dubai 2003 activities and personalities," said Belselah.