It’s been a quiet week for STAR TREK BEYOND news — allowing us to catch our breath for a few days! — so we decided that it’s time to look forward to the next phase of the BEYOND buildup: the move from Vancouver, British Columbia to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
We’ve already seen the major casting call for extras ahead of the movie’s arrival to the modern city, and the launch of a new internship program, but while there’s still only rumors about what we’ll see when the crew of the Enterprise gets there, we wanted to reach out to those responsible for bringing the film into town.
We reached out to Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman of the Dubai Film and TV Commission, and Managing Director of Dubai Studio City, for a brief chat about STAR TREK BEYOND, which begins filming there later this month.
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TREKCORE: In the United States, the Star Trek story is an indelible part of popular culture that even those who have never watched a Trek movie or television episode know of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, warp speed, phasers, etc. How would you compare the Arab world’s perception of Star Trek, and its role in the local pop culture?
AL SHARIF: Star Trek is very well-known across the Arab world and a big part of pop culture here in the Middle East.
The excitement across Dubai and the region following the announcement that Star Trek will film in Dubai has genuinely shown how large the sci-fi and Star Trek fan base is here.
The Middle East Film and Comic Con, held in Dubai, also attracts thousands of visitors every year, and has pioneered a real community of sci-fi fans across the region.
The upcoming filming and release of Star Trek will connect Trekkies in the Middle East to those around the world, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this global franchise together.
TREKCORE: In North America, many film sites are chosen based on local financial advantages – tax benefits, lower production costs, et cetera.
What type of incentives does filming in Dubai provide to draw international productions like STAR TREK BEYOND to the UAE?
AL SHARIF: Dubai enjoys a tax-free environment and the government is fully committed to positioning the Emirate as a film and TV hub, with the Dubai Film and TV Commission offering unique incentives to productions, such as discounted flights, hotels and logistics.
TREKCORE: As part of the agreement to filming in Dubai, does your agency have any say into how the city is represented in the film? What role do you see the city taking in the picture?
AL SHARIF: Production companies and location scouts tend to have their film’s story and location in mind when looking at different destinations. When visiting Dubai, I think the team were impressed at the diversity of locations the Emirate offers, as well as the ease at which filming can take place.
We will not determine how the city is portrayed in the film, however, I am confident that Dubai will be an important part of the film.
TREKCORE: This is the first Star Trek production to take place outside of North America – as the first global Trek adventure, what do you think that Dubai contributes to the film as a filming location?
AL SHARIF: Dubai’s unique locations, excellent connectivity and cutting-edge infrastructure have set it apart as a truly dynamic filming destination.
Dubai’s diverse locations include skyscrapers, beaches, desert and more, and the production facilities on offer across the Emirate are world-class. This city is versatile and can add a rich variety of backdrops to any film, and Star Trek will be no different.
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As production moves from Canada to the United Arab Emirates during the next few weeks, we’ll be eagerly watching to see what the trip overseas brings for STAR TREK BEYOND.
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