Abu Dhabi has steadily grown into a reliable stage for Hollywood’s action spectacle. A number of big-name productions have been filmed in the emirate, from Star Wars and Mission: Impossible to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune saga and Brad Pitt’s F1 The Movie.
Building on that momentum, Emirati actor and producer Mohamed F Mostafa has partnered with British filmmakers Neil Marshall and Jadey Duffield to develop a new slate of action films in Abu Dhabi, with an aim to establish the UAE capital as a global hub for the genre and give local talent a platform on the world stage.
The projects will be produced under Marshall and Duffield’s UK-based company Art of Action, with Abu Dhabi as its base. Two titles are already in development: Marshall’s Skeleton Coast, a desert survival thriller, and Duffield’s Blackout, described as a “Knives Out-style whodunnit crossed with The Raid-style action”.
Marshall is best known for The Descent (2005) and for directing Emmy-nominated Game of Thrones episodes including Blackwater and The Watchers on the Wall, while Duffield is building her reputation as a writer-director with a focus on action-driven stories after a decade in motion-capture and stunt work.
Mostafa is in the process of establishing a production company in Abu Dhabi that will work alongside Art of Action and ensure Emirati talent is embedded in each project.
“It’s serendipity, really,” Marshall says. “Jadey and I began working together last year on a couple of action projects and set up a company to do it. Then we met Mohamed, and he seemed very much on the same wavelength. We both have individual films we’re preparing to make out of the UAE. They’re ambitious, action-packed and very commercial. We want big names in them, and to utilise the incredible locations and talents of the UAE.”
Mostafa says the timing could not have been better. “The idea is to leverage local talent in front of and behind the camera, and blend that with the people we’re bringing in. There are many capable talents here – we just have to cherry-pick the right ones and prove that this can be done.”
Leveraging Abu Dhabi’s rebate scheme
Central to the plan is Abu Dhabi’s enhanced incentive programme, which now allows film and television productions to earn up to 50 per cent cashback on qualifying expenditure. The scheme is designed to not only attract big-budget shoots, but also encourage productions to hire local cast and crew and invest in the country’s infrastructure.
“We want to tap into fighting styles and things from the region that haven’t been seen before, instead of just copying what’s going on in Hong Kong
Neil Marshall,
filmmaker
Mostafa has been aligning the Art of Action projects with those requirements. “We want full transparency and clarity on what you can and cannot do, and how to maximise that,” he says. “The idea is to blend the experience Neil and Jadey bring with the capabilities already here, so the UAE benefits as much as the films do.”
Action as the global genre
For Marshall, there is no question that action is the right focus. “Action movies are a global currency,” he says. “It’s the one genre that will travel anywhere. Action speaks louder than words – it transcends borders, it transcends everything.”
In doing so, the hope is, they will be able to elevate regional talent into global superstars. “Stars aren’t born, stars are made. We need to start making the films, to get people in front of the camera, nurture talent both in front and behind, and build on what’s already there.”
Duffield echoes the emphasis on training and integration. “At this stage we can nurture talent here with stunt teams and action design. There’s so much room to include people. We’ll bring in some crew, but essentially it’s about building a mixture of both.”
Mostafa believes the UAE’s film scene has so far underplayed action, even as horror has gained traction. Majid Al Ansari’s Zinzana (2015) was widely acclaimed, and the filmmaker's latest, Hoba, will have its premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin this month. But horror, he says, appeals to niche audiences, while action is a universal language.
Service hub to industry base
The UAE’s appeal to Hollywood has been proven again and again. Yet once the cameras stop rolling, a sizeable part of those crews move on. In Duffield, Marshall and Mostafa's view, the difference with Art of Action is permanence.
Duffield says: “Bringing projects here is exciting because the UAE is the next film hub. The technology is advanced and the support systems are there. It feels like it’s on the brink.”
Mohamed Mostafa’s journey
Mostafa’s own career thus far has reflected the same balance between international ambition and local grounding. He starred in Apple TV+’s Hijack alongside Idris Elba, becoming the first Emirati actor to play a key role in a global streaming hit. He then led Khattaf, a martial-arts drama directed by his brother, Ali Mostafa, predominantly in Thailand, which he described as requiring “literal blood, sweat and tears”.
Now, he is stepping into production, working to ensure others have the opportunities he fought to secure. His own career continues, with several roles in international projects already in the works, but he is increasingly focused on making sure the UAE’s film industry grows with him.
Mostafa argues the country's advantages go beyond rebates. “Demographically, it’s great. You can bring people in from anywhere and people love to come here. It’s safe, and you can focus fully on your project.”
Defining the Arab action film
The plan is for Art of Action’s productions to not only film in Abu Dhabi, but also embed knowledge transfer into their DNA. Local stunt teams and crew will work alongside international specialists, building expertise film by film.
Marshall says they are also looking to regionalise their action choreography. “We want to tap into fighting styles and things from the region that haven’t been seen before, instead of just copying what’s going on in Hong Kong. Do something fresh.”
For more than a decade, the UAE has been an impressive stage for Hollywood’s biggest spectacles. What it has lacked is the chance to create global blockbusters of its own.
Mostafa believes that moment has come. “We want to enhance what’s already here, not replace it,” he says. “By doing this together, we can show the UAE is capable of world-class cinema.”
If the collaboration takes shape as planned, it could mark the beginning of a new era – with Abu Dhabi both hosting Hollywood blockbusters as well as but producing its own action films with global reach.
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Super heroes
Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Squads
Sri Lanka Tharanga (c), Mathews, Dickwella (wk), Gunathilaka, Mendis, Kapugedera, Siriwardana, Pushpakumara, Dananjaya, Sandakan, Perera, Hasaranga, Malinga, Chameera, Fernando.
India Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Rahane, Jadhav, Dhoni (wk), Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Thakur.
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
