The gang went for a cruise around Palm Jumeirah before being arrested. Jumana ElHeloueh / Reuters
The gang went for a cruise around Palm Jumeirah before being arrested. Jumana ElHeloueh / Reuters

Search on for cast of Dubai reality television show set on Palm Jumeirah



Well-heeled Palm residents have been invited to sign up for a new reality TV show. The only qualifications are applicants must be perma-tanned, rich and not afraid to flaunt it.

A British production company is currently looking for cast members to star in a new reality series, focusing on the glamorous lives of residents of Dubai's Palm Jumeirah.

Arrow Media, based in London, issued a flyer on UAE expat websites on Monday calling for individuals with "big personalities and an interesting story to tell" to get in touch.

The makers are working with network ITV, which broadcasts Love Island and The Only Way Is Essex, to develop the programme and are specifically looking for British expats who have moved or are about to move to the Palm, according to British Mums.

The flyer reads: "Are you a BRITISH EXPAT? Do you LIVE/WORK/ or PLAY on The Palm. Are you moving to The Palm this summer? A major international TV network is casting people who have started new lives on the sunny Palm. Seeking individuals with big personalities and an interesting story to tell."

The news has already attracted a lot of attention on social media with many excited at the prospect of having their lives featured on TV.

One person enthusiastically commented: "Time to move to the palm. Palm Island? Real housewives of the palm?"

While a friend replied: "OMG this is right up my street!"

However, others were not so pleased about the upcoming show, with one user sarcastically writing on Facebook: "Oh joy, just what we need - a show about Jumeirah Janes and Palm Patricks."

Miranda Davidson, a casting agent who has worked on many films including the seventh instalment of the Fast and Furious films, which was filmed in Abu Dhabi and Star Trek Beyond, which was filmed in Dubai, cautioned producers to act with care.

She told The National: "You have to be aware about filming and casting in the Middle East. It is important to know about the lay of the land.

"They will have to be careful with alcohol, scenes with sexual content and they will have to be careful about showing any nudity."

Davidson said to stand a chance of being selected, potential cast members would have to be "interesting and uninhibited".

Arrow is the company behind the popular series Ultimate Airport Dubai, which allowed unprecedented access into Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest in the world.

The media group also produced many popular TV series including Animal Fight Night, broadcast on the National Geographic Channel, and Don't Tell The Doctor, shown on Channel 5.

Since construction of the Palm finished in 2006, families moved in in their thousands, with an estimated 26,000 residing on the islands in 2015.

While Bollywood actress and Celebrity Big Brother UK winner Shilpa Shetty once owned a home in Dubai, selling up just over a year ago.

It won't be the first time that the Palm has been featured on a reality show; popular franchises the Real Housewives of Beverley Hills and The Real Housewives of Cheshire have both filmed episodes on the islands.

Meanwhile the original queen of reality TV Paris Hilton searched for a new best friend in the Emirate in Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF back in 2011.

If you think you have what it takes to become the next big reality star email casting@arrowmedia.com

The National has contacted a representative for Arrow Media to confirm further details about the project.

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Jigra
Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Rated: 3.5/5
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

The specs: Fenyr SuperSport

Price, base: Dh5.1 million

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm

Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
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Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

The past Palme d'Or winners

2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda

2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund

2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach

2015 DheepanJacques Audiard

2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan

2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux

2012 Amour, Michael Haneke

2011 The Tree of LifeTerrence Malick

2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul

2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke

2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

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