Dubai’s film and video game industries now share a single commission. Established under the Dubai Media Council following Law No. 29 of 2024, the Dubai Films and Games Commission (DFGC) succeeded the former Dubai Film and TV Commission with a mandate that covers both industries.
As a result, the DFGC sets regulatory frameworks for film and gaming, oversees digital platforms for producing and distributing both, and promotes local films and games in international markets. In addition, it organizes events, training programs and workshops, and produces sector reports and data to guide policy.
On the film side, the Commission has been busy on the international circuit. For example, a DFGC delegation attended the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026, where the Commission said it continues to explore additional incentives for larger international productions. Earlier that year, it ran a Talent Development Programme with the UK’s National Film and Television School and Prime Video, helping Dubai-based writers and producers develop scripted TV series. Meanwhile, recent international productions serviced in Dubai include Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War.
Gaming, however, gets equal billing. In August 2026, the DFGC led Dubai’s pavilion at Gamescom in Cologne for the first time.
Then, in September 2026, the two sectors met at the Arab Media Summit, where the DFGC organized a dedicated Films Forum and Games Forum. Topics ranged from co-production and investment to talent development and emerging technologies.
Ultimately, Dubai’s pitch rests on speed. According to the Council, studios choose the city for its processes, infrastructure and access to markets, not for cost factors alone. As Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council, put it, “Dubai is no longer just a backdrop.”
Read more: Cinema & Video International Issue #209
