While studios in Dubai are equipped to make the Arab world's first three-dimensional film, but the costs involved are high enough to drive up the cost of filming by as much as 40 per cent, said an expert.

Bahraini computer graphics expert Khalid Al Muharraqi also said the stereoscopic technique involved in creating 3D images for film was so time consuming that characters could take twice as long to create.

However, he said it was only a matter of time before Arab audiences had their own equivalent of blockbusters like Avatar.

"I build in 3D, but if I do it in stereoscopic it will take me double the time and so far I have never been asked to use it," Al Muharraqi said. "It's a new concept in filming in general, but it's never been used yet in Arabic cinema.”

"There are studios in Dubai that have the ability, but I doubt people will spend all that on stereoscopic right now. You could use it in advertising, but you need the glasses, but if you want to make documentaries you might use it.”

"There will be a time that all TVs will have 3D built in so you wouldn't need glasses, but it's not now,” he added.

Al Muharraqi, who is Muharraqi Studios founder and chief creative, made his comments after taking part as a panel speaker at the Abu Dhabi Film Commission Circle Conference.

Technique

"The Future Looks 3D" was the subject of the panel discussion, which was chaired by Frame Store chief executive officer and co-founder Sir William Sagent and included other panellists including Vision3 director and stereographer Angus Cameron, Paramount Pictures executive producer Doug Merrifield and twofour54 Intaj head Hasan Sayed Hasan.

During the discussion Al Muharraqi demonstrated NewTek's LightWave 10, the latest beta version of the application that is expected to be available next year. It offers the most advanced 3D technology for modelling, animation and rendering software.

Al Muharraqi will also be participating in the Character Dubai and Dubai World Game Expo 2010 later this month. The event will include shows and discussion forums, while Mr Al Muharaqi will speak on a subject related to character development.

The 38-year-old artist was tutored in the techniques of drawing and fine art by his father, renowned Bahraini artist Abdulla Al Muharraqi. He now specialises in 3D software and creating computer-generated images, such as animals, mythical creatures and architectural scenes.

His latest assignment is an animation project for a Dubai TV company that will be aired next Ramadan. – TradeArabia News Service