Executive Council Resolution No. (50) of 2014

Concerning the

Dubai Film and Television Commission[1]

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We, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council,

After perusal of:

Law No. (3) of 2003 Establishing the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai;

Law No. (14) of 2009 Concerning the Pricing of Government Services in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments;

Law No. (35) of 2009 Concerning Management of the Public Funds of the Government of Dubai and its amendments;

Law No. (15) of 2014 Concerning Creative Clusters in the Emirate of Dubai;

Decree No. (22) of 2009 Concerning Special Development Zones in the Emirate of Dubai;

Executive Council Resolution No. (16) of 2012 Forming the Dubai Film and Television Commission and its amendments;

Executive Council Resolution No. (17) of 2012 Appointing the Chairman of the Dubai Film and Television Commission; and

The legislation regulating free zones in the Emirate of Dubai,

Do hereby issue this Resolution.

Definitions

Article (1)

The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Resolution, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:

UAE:	The United Arab Emirates.
Emirate:	The Emirate of Dubai.
DCCA:	The Dubai Creative Clusters Authority.
DFTC:	The Dubai Film and Television Commission.
Media Production:	Media Filming for television, cinema, commercials, drama, documentaries, photography, and other production.
Media Filming:	This includes outdoor and indoor filming operations conducted for Media Production purposes.
Outdoor Filming:	Media Filming conducted in open spaces such as roads, beaches, public parks, yards, car parks, and elsewhere.
Indoor Filming:	Media Filming conducted in closed spaces such as homes, trade centres, hospitals, offices, hotels, and similar places.
Production Company:	Firms, companies, and agencies working in Media Production, in the media, or in television broadcasting.

Scope of Application

Article (2)

This Resolution applies to the Dubai Film and Television Commission established pursuant to the above-mentioned Executive Council Resolution No. (16) of 2012, and affiliated to DCCA.

Objectives and Functions of the DFTC

Article (3)

In line with the Dubai Strategic Plan, the DFTC aims to establish a fundamental framework which determines the general strategy that must be followed by the Emirate to increase national, and attract international, production in the television and film sectors. For the purpose of achieving its objectives, the DFTC may:

1. establish and adopt a clear strategy that promotes the Emirate as the location for Media Filming and Media Production, and contributes to developing the gross national product of the Emirate by attracting foreign and local Production Companies;

2. establish and adopt a strategy to reduce Media Production costs in such a manner as to promote the Emirate’s position in the media sector at the regional and international levels, and adopt a procedure for managing an incentives programme to attract foreign television programmes and films, and encourage local production;

3. ensure expediency and smoothness of the procedures of indoor and outdoor Media Filming throughout the Emirate including public and private filming locations;

4. develop and attract the human resources required for developing the Media Production sector in all relevant fields;

5. act as a liaison between Government entities and private companies to facilitate Media Filming operations conducted in the Emirate; and

6. gauge the impact of Media Filming on the tourism sector in the Emirate and on promoting talent, and assess the impact of Media Production on the gross national product (GNP);

7. establish the standards, requirements, and indices necessary for DFTC performance appraisal, and a procedure for submitting its annual performance reports; and

8. perform any other duties required for the achievement of its objectives.

Media Filming Permits

Article (4)

The DFTC is the sole entity authorised to license all Media Filming operations conducted in the Emirate, including Special Development Zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Filming Locations

Article (5)

a. Prior to issuing a Media Filming permit, the DFTC must coordinate with the relevant public and private entities. In all events, such entities must approve filming applications that involve filming at their locations.

b. In return for issuing permits for Media Filming in the Emirate, the DFTC will charge the fees stated in Schedule (1) attached hereto.

c. The DFTC may exempt any Production Company from the fees referred to in paragraph (b) of this Article in accordance with the regulations and rules approved by a resolution of the Chairman of DCCA.

d. Private entities may not charge more than twenty-five thousand Dirhams (AED 25,000.00) per day in return for Media Filming operations conducted in any of their locations which are accessible to the public. Unless the DTFC decides otherwise, such entities must refund any amounts charged in excess of the above amount.

e. The DFTC will submit its performance reports to the Director General of DCCA.

Collection of Fees and Charges

Article (6)

The fees and charges referred to in Article (5) of this Resolution will be collected in accordance with the procedure approved by the DFTC in this respect.

Formation of the DFTC

Article (7)

a. The DFTC will be formed of representatives from the following entities:

1. the Dubai Police;

2. the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing;

3. the Department of Economic Development;

4. the Dubai Municipality;

5. the Roads and Transport Authority;

6. the Government of Dubai Media Office ;

7. the Dubai Studio City;

8. the Dubai International Film Festival;

9. the Emirates Airline Group; and

10. the Jumairah Group.

b. The representatives of the entities referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article will be nominated by the officials in charge of such entities.

c. The DFTC will have a charter which regulates its business, meeting quorums, and method of passing its resolutions. Such charter must be approved pursuant to a resolution of the the DFTC.

d. For purposes of achieving its objectives and performing its functions under this Resolution, the DFTC may, as it deems appropriate, seek the assistance of experts and specialists, and form work teams as required.

Chairman of the DFTC

Article (8)

A chairman will be appointed to the DFTC, pursuant to a resolution of the Chairman of the Executive Council, from amongst the representatives of the entities referred to in Article (7) of this Resolution.

Executive Body of the DFTC

Article (9)

Members of the executive body of the DFTC will be selected and appointed, and their remuneration, obligations, and rights, and other relevant matters determined pursuant to a regulation issued by the Chairman of DCCA.

Provision of Support

Article (10)

DCCA will provide the financial, technical, and administrative support required to enable the DFTC to perform its duties under this Resolution.

Violations and Fines

Article (11)

a. Without prejudice to any stricter penalty stipulated in any other resolution, a person who commits any of the acts stipulated in Schedule (2) attached hereto will be punished by the fine indicated opposite that act.

b. Upon repetition of the same violation within one (1) year from the date of the previous violation, the amount of the fine referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article will be doubled, provided that the fine does not exceed fifty thousand Dirhams (AED 50,000.00).

c. In addition to the penalty of a fine referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article, the DFTC may take one or more of the following measures against a violator:

1. suspending the Media Filming operation until remedy of the violation;

2. prohibition of Media Filming for a period not exceeding six (6) months; and/or

3. permanent prohibition of Media Filming.

Law Enforcement

Article (12)

DCCA employees and inspectors nominated pursuant to a resolution of the Director General of DCCA will have the capacity of law enforcement officers to record the acts committed in breach of the provisions of this Resolution. For this purpose, they may supervise and control Media Filming operations that are conducted in the Emirate, issue the necessary violation reports, and, where necessary, seek the assistance of police personnel.

Grievance

Article (13)

Any affected party may submit a grievance against any decisions, procedures, or measures taken against him in accordance with this Resolution or the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, within thirty (30) days from the date of being notified of the contested decision, procedure, or measure. The grievance will be determined by a committee formed by the Director General of DCCA for this purpose, within thirty (30) days, and the decision issued by the committee on the grievance will be final.

Repeals

Article (14)

a. This Resolution supersedes the above-mentioned Executive Council Resolution No. (16) of 2012.

b. Any provision in any other resolution will be repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Resolution.

Publication and Commencement

Article (15)

This Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is published.

Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Crown Prince of Dubai

Chairman of the Executive Council

Issued in Dubai on 7 December 2014

Corresponding to 15 Safar 1436 A.H.

Schedule (1)

Fees for Issuing Permits for Media Filming in the Emirate

SN	Description	Fee (in Dirhams)
SN	Description	Application	Permit
1	Issuing a Media Filming permit to a Production Company licensed in the UAE for a TV or film drama (films, TV series, or documentaries)	500.00	AED 2,500.00 up to 30 days
2	Issuing a Media Filming permit to a Production Company licensed in the UAE for TV productions (based-on-a-true-story films, magazine shows, or TV shows)	500.00	AED 2,500.00 up to 30 days
3	Issuing a Media Filming permit to a foreign Production Company authorised by a Production Company licensed in the UAE for televised news reports (news and events)	500.00	AED 2,500.00 up to 14 days
4	Issuing a Media Filming permit to a Production Company licensed in the UAE to film televised commercials (TV and Internet commercials)	500.00	AED 2,500.00 up to 3 days
5	Issuing a Media Filming or photography permit to a Production Company licensed in the UAE to film a landmark in the Emirate	500.00	AED 2,500.00 up to 14 days
6	Issuing a Media Filming permit to certain firms or companies for promotional or internal purposes	500.00	AED 2,500.00 up to 7 days
7	Issuing a Media Filming or photography permit to a publishing house or a TV channel licensed in the UAE to make news reports and news coverage	500.00	--
8	Issuing an all-purpose aerial Media Filming or photography permit to a Production Company licensed in the UAE	500.00	--
9	Issuing a Media Filming or photography permit to a local or federal government entity, a diplomatic mission, or a public-benefit society or foundation	500.00	--

Schedule (2)

Violations and Fines

SN	Violation	Fine (in Dirhams)
1	Conducting Media Filming operations in the Emirate without obtaining the relevant permit from the DTFC	25,000.00
2	Conducting Media Filming operations in other than the locations determined in the permit	15,000.00
3	Conducting Media Filming operations on other than the days and timings determined in the permit	15,000.00
4	Conducting Media Filming operations for other than the purposes determined in the permit	25,000.00
5	Committing a breach of any of the terms of the permit other than those mentioned above	20,000.00

[1]Every effort has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict the Arabic text will prevail.