The Creative Media Authority (CMA) has signed a three-year strategic partnership with leading US production company Antoinette Media, marking another significant step in further advancing Abu Dhabi as a global hub for content production, talent development and creative media enterprise. The agreement will see Antoinette Media bring its distinctive approach in creating high-quality, mass-appeal television and film, across both unscripted and scripted formats, to the emirate, further strengthening the local creative media economy while positioning the emirate as a permanent base for international media players.
Antoinette Media will enhance the production and talent development ecosystem, overseen and nurtured by CMA in Abu Dhabi, combining high-volume production with structured workforce development and a ‘hire local’ approach that prioritises training, hands-on experience, and long-term career opportunities for UAE-based creatives.
This partnership reinforces CMA’s broader mandate to attract world-class media companies to Abu Dhabi while nurturing local talent, creating new jobs and fostering cross-border collaborations that fuel the growth of the regional creative media economy.
Under the partnership, Antoinette Media will deliver a minimum of six major productions, including feature films, television series, or high-volume commercial campaigns. At least half of the workforce on these projects will comprise of Abu Dhabi-based freelancers and licensed professionals, ensuring direct investment into the local talent base and freelance economy.
In addition, Antoinette Media will participate in at least six talent development workshops and provide internship opportunities for emerging media creatives, underscoring the company’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of storytellers in the UAE. Through its partnership with CMA, the company is deploying this established production and workforce model; prioritising skills transfer, job creation, and long-term talent development to drive local, meaningful participation across the entire production value chain.
Nabil Abu Samra, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Creative Media Authority said: “Abu Dhabi is rapidly establishing itself as one of the world’s most compelling creative media destinations. Antoinette Media’s expansion to the emirate brings global credibility, high-profile productions, and an exceptional network of talent, while reinforcing our ambition to make Abu Dhabi an enduring home for leading storytellers. With a strong commitment to local hiring, skills development, and world-class content creation, this partnership signals to the global industry that Abu Dhabi is where meaningful content meets meaningful opportunity.”
Lashan Browning, Founder and CEO of Antoinette Media commented: “I am honoured to join forces with Abu Dhabi’s Creative Media Authority in this bold and future-focused partnership. The creative infrastructure, talent pool, and global ambition align perfectly with Antoinette’s mission to share stories that resonate around the world so establishing a long-term production presence here isn’t just a strategic move, it’s a creative one. We’re excited to collaborate with local voices, invest in the region’s remarkable talent, and help create world-class content.”
Neda Farshbaf, General Manager of the new partnership, will oversee the coordination and execution of new initiatives arising from today’s announcement.
Read more: talabat UAE Appoints Umami Comms as Consumer PR Agency
