Twofour54 Explained

twofour54
Formation:2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Founder:Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company
Headquarters:Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Location Country:United Arab Emirates
Parent Organization:Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company

twofour54 is a UAE state-owned media and entertainment production company located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[1] Many major Hollywood productions have done production work in twofour54's facilities.[2]

Location and area

twofour54 is located in and named after the geographical coordinates of Abu Dhabi (24° N, 54° E), capital of the United Arab Emirates.[3] The media free zone's main campus is located on the mainland (Yas Island).[2] It also operates a 70,000 square meter backlot in Kizad[4] and production studios in Mussafah,[5] with plans to expand to build their Yas Creative Hub on Yas Island by the fourth quarter of 2021.[6]

Background

The media free zone twofour54 was founded in 2008.[7] It falls under Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company's remit,[8] [9] as a government-backed media and creative industries hub.[10] Former Universal executive Wayne Borg joined the company as chief commercial officer, a role in which he served until 2013.[11]

In 2012, twofour54 took over the operation of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival,[10] until its demise in 2015.[12]

In 2020, Michael Garin was appointed CEO of twofour54.

The zone is home to a large number of international and local media companies,[13] and offers infrastructure and support, such as end-to-end production services,[14] government and travel services,[14] 100% business ownership,[15] and set-up and licensing.[16]

twofour54 houses media companies in the audio, visual, and print industries,[17] [18] [19] as well as news outlets and digital app creators.[20] [21] [22] Their facilities also host the first CNN Academy.[23]

As of 2020, more than 550 media companies and over 700 freelancers are based at twofour54, which has been involved in over 2,300 international major productions in Abu Dhabi.[13]

Notable films produced at twofour54 include ,[24] 6 Underground[25] and Bharat.[26]

Past productions at twofour54 intaj

2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

Notable companies at twofour54

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 2013-10-16 . The Abu Dhabi Media Summit: interview with Wayne Borg, Twofour54 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . Twofour54 was set up as an initiative of the Abu Dhabi government with a vision to contribute to the diversification of the economy there..
  2. Web site: 2020-11-25 . CNN, Ubisoft Set to Join Abu Dhabi's Yas Creative Hub Development . 2021-03-02 . Hollywood Reporter.
  3. News: Reaching for a Higher Profile, Abu Dhabi Opens a Hub for Western Media - The New York Times . . 2008-10-13 . 2021-03-02.
  4. News: Newbould . Chris . A look inside twofour54's Kizad backlot . 3 September 2021 . The National . 29 April 2018.
  5. Web site: Inside 'Inheritance', the first ever Arab soap opera being filmed in UAE | Arab-celebs – Gulf News . Gulfnews.com . 2020-03-02 . 2021-03-02.
  6. Web site: Nick . Vivarelli . Abu Dhabi Announces Yas Creative Hub For Entertainment Industry . Variety . 2020-11-25 . 2021-03-02.
  7. Web site: Commentary: Media in the UAE: The Abu Dhabi powerhouse . 2021-03-02.
  8. Web site: 2019-07-04. State-owned Abu Dhabi firms transferred to new parent company. 2021-04-08. The National. en.
  9. Web site: 11 Abu Dhabi entities come under one roof. 2021-04-08. gulfnews.com. 3 July 2019 . en.
  10. Web site: Levine . Sydney . Peter Scarlet Leaves and is now former director of Abu Dhabi Film Festival . Medium . 9 August 2012. 14 April 2023.
  11. Web site: Wayne Borg's Exit From Abu Dhabi's Twofour54 Raises Questions for Middle Eastern Industry . Hollywood Reporter . 2013-12-11 . 2021-03-02.
  12. Web site: Arora . Vibhuti . Abu Dhabi Film Festival to be discontinued . BroadcastPro ME . 7 May 2015 . 14 April 2023.
  13. Web site: Why have media producers flocked to Abu Dhabi . Oxford Business Group . 13 July 2020. 2021-03-02.
  14. Web site: Director-General of Abu Dhabi Media Office and CEO of twofour54 discusses the city's booming media industry with business leaders in New York and Los Angeles - The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council . 2021-03-02 . Usuaebusiness.org.
  15. Web site: Setting up a company in twofour54 Free Zone . Virtuzone. 2018-01-04 . 2021-03-02.
  16. Web site: WAM . Freelance license holders eligible for residence visa | Uae – Gulf News . Gulf News . 2009-11-09 . 2021-03-02.
  17. Web site: 25 November 2020. Abu Dhabi's twofour54 bets big on film | WIRED Middle East. Wired.me. 2021-03-02.
  18. Web site: 2012-05-19. Cannes 2012: Abu Dhabi's twofour54 to Launch Production Incentives. Hollywood Reporter. 2021-03-02.
  19. Web site: Spectrum Digital Print Solutions Continues Expansion With Opening Of Fourth Outlet In Twofour54, Abu Dhabi. UAE Today. 2021-03-02.
  20. Web site: Staff Reporter. Malayalam digital radio to hit airwaves - News . Khaleej Times . 2013-12-19 . 2021-03-02.
  21. Web site: 2016-04-24. CNN unveils upgraded, high-tech studio at twofour54 in Abu Dhabi. 2021-04-22. The National. en.
  22. Web site: 2010-01-24. Flip Media expands into capital. 2021-04-22. The National. en.
  23. News: 22 September 2020 . CNN launches Academy in Abu Dhabi . 3 September 2021 . CNN IC.
  24. Web site: 'Mission: Impossible – Fallout': Why the Biggest Stunt Saw Abu Dhabi Stand in for Paris . Hollywood Reporter . 2018-07-27 . 2021-03-02.
  25. News: Rai . Sarakshi . Trailer: Ryan Reynolds stars in new Netflix thriller 6 Underground filmed in Abu Dhabi . 3 September 2021 . Esquire Middle East . 3 October 2019.
  26. Web site: Nick . Vivarelli . U.S. Exec Michael Garin Appointed CEO of UAE Media Hub twofour54 . Variety . 2020-02-03 . 2021-03-02.
  27. Web site: Cannes 2012: Abu Dhabi's twofour54 to Launch Production Incentives . Hollywood Reporter . 2012-05-19 . 2021-03-02.
  28. Web site: Nick . Vivarelli . Abu Dhabi: twofour54 Thrives as Mideast's Content Capital . Variety . 2014-10-16 . 2021-03-02.
  29. Web site: Why Bollywood is smitten with Abu Dhabi . The Financial Express . 2018-07-08 . 2021-03-02.
  30. Web site: Leo . Barraclough . Why 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Decided to Shoot in Abu Dhabi (EXCLUSIVE) . Variety . 2014-05-21 . 2021-03-02.
  31. Web site: Nagraj. Aarti. 2014-05-19. Hollywood Movie Fast & Furious 7 Completes Filming In Abu Dhabi. 2021-04-22. Gulf Business. en-US.
  32. Web site: 'Fast & Furious 7' to Film in Abu Dhabi . Hollywood Reporter . 2014-12-03 . 2021-03-02.
  33. Web site: Schreck . Adam . 'The Bold and the Beautiful' lands in the Emirates . Washingtonexaminer.com . 2014-03-17 . 2021-03-02.
  34. Web site: 'The World Keeps Spinning' for Will Smith's DJ son in the UAE! . Al Bawaba . 2015-11-24 . 2021-03-02.
  35. Web site: 2019-04-12. Abu Dhabi's SWAT team film scenes for new TV show with actor Clive Standen. 2021-04-08. The National. en.
  36. Web site: UAE director Al Murry returns with horror comedy 'Ghost' | Arab-celebs – Gulf News . Gulfnews.com . 2019-07-24 . 2021-03-02.
  37. News: Pereira . Nikhil . twoFour54 reveals filming key scenes of Sonic the Hedgehog in Abu Dhabi . 3 September 2021 . ITP.net . 8 April 2020.
  38. Web site: twofour54 announces wrap of Bollywood film 'Bunty Aur Babli 2' in Abu Dhabi . BroadcastPro ME . 3 March 2020. 2021-03-02.
  39. Web site: 2017-05-24. Edelman UAE Shifts HQ To twoFour54 Media Zone In Abu Dhabi. 2021-04-08. AM Marketing, Media, Advertising News in MENA. en-US.
  40. News: 2010-03-08. Fox International partners with Abu Dhabi firm. en. Reuters. 2021-04-08.
  41. Web site: Nagraj. Aarti. 2017-05-22. Abu Dhabi's Aldar wins deal to develop twofour54's new freezone in Yas Island. 2021-04-08. Gulf Business. en-US.
  42. Web site: The National, twofour54, Building 6,, Abu Dhabi (2021). 2021-04-08. www.findglocal.com.
  43. Web site: Brenda. 2018-08-15. twofour54 – Growing Media Freezone In Abu Dhabi - Riz & Mona Blog. 2021-04-08. Riz & Mona. en-US.
  44. Web site: Rapid TV News - Sky News Arabia seals cross platform carriage deals. 2021-04-08. www.rapidtvnews.com.
  45. Web site: 2011-06-28. Sport 360 plans online overhaul. 2021-04-08. The National. en.