Dubai showcases film industry growth at Cannes as DFGC targets global production hub status

Dubai: The Dubai Films and Games Commission (DFGC) participated in the 79th Cannes Film Festival, held from 12 to 23 May 2026 in Cannes, France, as part of broader efforts to deepen engagement with the international film industry and strengthen the emirate’s position within the global production landscape.

The participation reflects the Commission’s continued focus on building long-term relationships with international studios, producers and industry stakeholders, while highlighting Dubai’s growing production capabilities, infrastructure, talent and creative ecosystem.

A DFGC delegation led by Hesham Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Films and Games Commission, met with a range of global studios, producers and industry stakeholders during the festival. The discussions explored opportunities for collaboration, creative exchange and future partnerships, while showcasing the scale and diversity of Dubai’s production expertise.

Dubai’s presence at Cannes comes as the emirate advances a broader vision for developing its film industry through enhanced coordination, infrastructure investment, talent initiatives and international outreach.

His Excellency Hesham Sultan Al Olama, CEO of the Dubai Films and Games Commission, said: “Dubai’s participation in Cannes marks the next phase of our engagement with the international film industry and reflects our long-term vision to establish the emirate as a leading global hub for film production.

“Cannes is one of the most important platforms for dialogue, partnership-building and creative exchange in the global film industry. For Dubai, it presents an opportunity to strengthen relationships, explore meaningful collaborations and promote the UAE’s film sector. We continue to position Dubai as a destination where international productions can develop ambitious projects, access world-class infrastructure and benefit from a dynamic production ecosystem.

“As the industry evolves, we remain focused on driving long-term sector growth, supporting emerging talent and creating an environment that enables both creative and commercial success.”

Samr Almarzooqi, Film Commissioner at the Dubai Films and Games Commission, added: “Dubai’s participation in this year’s Cannes Film Festival highlights the increasing global attention the emirate is receiving from the filmmaking community.

“The festival offers a strategic platform to showcase Dubai’s value proposition, including its expanding ecosystem, advanced infrastructure and collaborative environment. It also provides an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about the future of filmmaking and the role that emerging global hubs like Dubai can play. We look forward to building on these engagements to support sustainable industry growth and further strengthen Dubai’s international standing.”

In recent years, Dubai has significantly raised its profile as a global production centre, offering filmmakers access to world-class infrastructure, strong international connectivity, state-of-the-art production services, efficient permitting processes and robust government support. The emirate provides diverse filming locations, ranging from modern cityscapes and historic districts to beaches, deserts and mountains.

Dubai also serves as an operational base for productions across the Middle East, offering streamlined access to crews, equipment suppliers, studios, logistics networks and production support services. Efficient permitting and accelerated production timelines are supported by strong cross-government coordination.

The Commission continues to explore additional incentives to enhance Dubai’s competitiveness for large-scale international productions, in collaboration with local and global partners.

Recent international productions filmed in Dubai include Amazon Prime Video’s Jack Ryan and Netflix’s Korean drama Genie, Make a Wish, highlighting the city’s growing capability to support major studio and streaming projects across genres and markets.

The Cannes participation aligns with the broader mandate of the Dubai Films and Games Commission to support the long-term development of the emirate’s film and gaming sectors through industry partnerships, ecosystem development, regulatory advancement and international collaboration. Established under the Dubai Media Council, the Commission serves as the primary regulatory and development authority for Dubai’s film and gaming industries.