Abu Dhabi attracts another big budget Bollywood movie

The Indian film star, Salman Khan, is returning to Abu Dhabi this week to film his latest blockbuster, Race 3 – six months since September, after he wrapped production on Tiger Zinda Hai, reportedly Bollywood’s second highest domestic box office earner of all time.

Race 3, which is being produced by Salman Khan Films & Tips Industries Ltd, will be shooting at six locations across Abu Dhabi over 35 days – Emirates Palace, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Emirates Steel, and Liwa Desert.

Commenting on the upcoming shoot, H.E. Maryam Eid AlMheiri, CEO of Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi and twofour54, said: “We are delighted to welcome Salman Khan back to Abu Dhabi for Race 3, the fifth major Indian movie to shoot in our city. This is being driven by the many advantages of filming here, such as our world-class infrastructure, diverse locations, government support, incredible freelancer pool of talent, and the attractive 30% rebate on production spend from ADFC.”

twofour54 is providing production services as well as the support of its government and travel services department. Four interns will also work on the project, part of twofour54’s aim to ensure that attracting productions to Abu Dhabi helps to develop the Emirate’s media professionals of the future.

Salman Khan Films and Tips Industries Ltd. is also taking advantage of the 30% rebate on production spend in the Emirate from Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC). More than 55 major productions have now accessed the rebate since it was first introduced in 2013. It is estimated that the projects have created a significant tourism spin-off as more than one billion people globally have seen Abu Dhabi because of the productions.

Among the Hollywood studios that have used Abu Dhabi as a location in recent years are Universal Pictures with Furious 7 and The Bourne Legacy, and Disney with Star Wars: The Force Awakens.