Abu Dhabi-based twofour54 will offer an outdoor film set, a permanent backlot and studios for productions of different sizes, said H.E. Maryam Eid AlMheiri, CEO of Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi and twofour54 CEO of Media Zone Authority.

twofour54’s Studio City at Mina Zayed will cover 300,000 square metres and will feature an outdoor film set, a permanent backlot and studios for productions of different sizes, ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 square metres, as well as smaller studios catering to Abu Dhabi’s local production companies.

News of twofour54’s Studio City at Mina Zayed comes as the media zone is preparing to move to a new home on Yas Island. This will increase the capacity of twofour54 by 30% from 2020 with the option to expand even further by 2030. The built-for-purpose home will feature offices, TV studios, retail spaces, and recreation facilities.

As Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi and twofour54 enter their 10th year, the move to Yas Island and development of Studio City at Mina Zayed form key parts of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 to build a media industry.

twofour54 has reportedly overseen more than 390 production projects and 177 post-production projects since its establishment.

The development, which His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, approved, is part of a regeneration project that will transform Mina Zayed warehouses into creative production spaces.

On the expansion plans, H.E. Maryam Eid AlMheiri said: “This is an important milestone for Abu Dhabi and the development of the film and TV industry in the region.

“Since twofour54 was established almost a decade ago, we have strived to become the capital of quality content creation and to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification strategy.

“Today, Abu Dhabi is a filming destination that has attracted some of the largest studios in the world, such as Disney with Star Wars and Universal Pictures with the Fast & Furious franchise, as well as blockbusters from Bollywood such as ‘Dishoom’, ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, ‘Baby’ and ‘Bang Bang’.”