a href="/myfiles/Images/2015/07/17/li04_big.jpg" title="Still of Daisy Ridley and John Boyega on the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" set in Abu Dhabi." Still of Daisy Ridley and John Boyega on the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" set in Abu Dhabi. ABU DHABI — Star Wars fans at Comic-Con in San Diego got a special treat last Friday, with a screening of a behind-the-scenes featurette of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” reported Albawaba.com. New cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, and original cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford made a surprise appearance with the filmmakers. The footage shows more scenes shot in May last year in the Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi, which serves as the desert planet of Jakku or planet Tatooine, home to Luke Skywalker. Previous Star Wars films were shot in Tunisia, but the Abu Dhabi Film Commission successfully campaigned for filming to take place in the United Arab Emirates. According to Khaleej Times, the UAE is now offering incentives such as a 30 per cent cash-back rebate on productions, auxiliary services such a scouting assistance, supply of professional crew, government servicing, permits, visas, script approval, customs clearance and shooting permits, studios and post-production facilities and no sales tax. In addition to Star Wars, recent productions shot in Abu Dhabi include “Bourne Legacy,” “The Kingdom,” “Syriana” and “Fast and Furious 7.” In another coup, the Dubai Film and TV Commission announced that “Star Trek Beyond,” the thirteenth film in the franchise, would be shooting scenes in the UAE. — Agencies
