Directing an airport's recovery story

The challenge

After 15 months of hibernation during the pandemic, Dubai International’s Terminal 1 was due to reopen. The executive board requested Dubai Airports’ marketing team to amplify the news across social and traditional media. Faced with Covid-era financial constraints, the board required maximum impact for minimum cost.

The solution

An ambitious cinematic vision was brought to life on a relatively small budget of $5,000. Working frame by frame, I directed a single videographer to capture the exact moments when the lights were turned on across the terminal. This involved a high level of coordination with the operations team, as well as stakeholders like police, immigration, airlines and commercial outlets. The dramatic, uplifting video was shared across social media and newsdesks like The National, raising awareness and spreading much-needed positivity for the travel industry.