Famous Movies Shot in Dubai – Hollywood Blockbusters!

Dubai becomes one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities. Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, is home to nearly 200 nationalities and provides visitors with a genuinely unforgettable experience. It exudes a spirit of promise and invention, whether on the banks of the Creek or at the top of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Check out how, where and when all the famous movies were shot in Dubai.

Here’s a list of renowned Hollywood movies that were filmed in Dubai if you’re curious about which of your favorite sites in the city have had their bit of glory!

Also Read: Dubai 7 Days Itinerary

1. Syriana – 2015
2. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol – 2011
3. Fast & Furious 7 – 2015
4. Star Trek – Beyond – 2016
5. 6, Underground – 2019
6. Vanguard – 2020
7. The Misfits – 2021
8. Dune – 2021

1. Syriana -2015

Many of the desert sequences in Syriana were shot in the Dubai desert, making it the first major Hollywood film to use Dubai as a filming site. The dramatic drama, which stars Matt Damon and George Clooney, mixes numerous tales, all of which revolve around the Middle East’s oil business. The Oscar-winning geopolitical thriller is based on petroleum politics and its effects on various elements and individuals. The film was shot in Dubai for the most part, with some of the action sequences wonderfully reflecting the stark grandeur of the city’s dry terrains and golden deserts.

2. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol – 2011

Any discussion of movies shot in Dubai would be incomplete without mentioning this action-packed installment of the Mission Impossible franchise! Cruise, reprising his iconic Ethan Hunt role, glides down the 163-story Burj Khalifa, located in the heart of Downtown Dubai, a flagship mega-development by Emaar Properties, in one of the most unforgettable scenes from the film. From a height of nearly 1,700 feet, the daredevil actor executed what has become known as the “Mission Impossible Dubai” stunt himself! Other notable spots in Dubai featured in the film include the Palm Jumeirah, the Armani Hotel, and Zabeel Saray.

3. Fast & Furious-7 – 2015

Almost all Abu Dhabi locations are easily identifiable in Fast & Furious 7, including a vertigo-inducing sports car leaping between the glass-walled Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, a fleet of luxury sports cars speeding via the flame-hued Liwa Desert dunes, and the Fast & Furious crew wandering substantially down the golden steps of Emirates Palace. It became the fourth-highest worldwide debut of all era when it opened on April 1, 2015, grossing AED 5.5 billion internationally. The filming was delayed due to the terrible loss of original fellow actor Paul Walker, but the film nevertheless managed to generate some of the most memorable action sequences ever.

Also Read: The Best Things to See and Do in Dubai

4. Star Trek – Beyond – 2016

Do you believe Dubai’s incredible buildings give it a futuristic vibe? Jeffery Chernov, the producer of Star Trek, certainly seems to believe so! While we may not yet have reached the kind of future living seen in The Jetsons, Dubai is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s most innovative cities. Significant portions of the film, which saw the Star Trek franchise return to the silver screen with Chris Pine in the captain’s chair, were shot in Dubai to simulate one of the Enterprise’s luxurious bases, Yorktown. The stunning architecture of Dubai’s JLT beachfront, Meydan racetrack, and the Burj Al Arab can all be shown in the 13th installment of the franchise.

5. 6, Underground – 2019

6 Underground, the highest-budget Netflix film to date, was shot in Abu Dhabi for six weeks in November 2018, and several of the world’s most visited sites was seen in the film, which was premiered in December 2019. All of the scenes in which lead actor Ryan Reynolds and his crew travel to California, the Middle East, and Hong Kong in the film were shot in Abu Dhabi. The Liwa Desert, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Aldar Headquarters, the globe’s first circular skyscrapers. More than 85 major films are now filming in Abu Dhabi, including 6 Underground. This is also the second Netflix film to be shot in Abu Dhabi, the first being Brad Pitt’s “War Machine” in 2015

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6. Vanguard – 2020

Vanguard, Jackie Chan’s latest fantasy action film directed by Stanley Tong, is set in a stunning array of dramatic locations, including the futuristic Dubai skyline. The production team traveled to Dubai in 2019 to film sequences, which included Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa, and The Dubai Mall. In a nutshell, the film follows an accountant who is threatened by a lethal organization, and the covert security firm Vanguard, led by Tang Haunting (Jackie Chan), is his last hope of life.

7. The Misfits – 2021

Piers Brosnan, along with the rest of the cast and crew of the upcoming action-heist The Misfits, spent several weeks filming on location in Abu Dhabi in 2019. The film, which was released in theatres, is set primarily in the Middle East and follows a master architect (Brosnan) who becomes involved in a huge gold theft.

8. Dune – 2021

An all-star cast including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, and Jason Momoa traveled to Abu Dhabi to shoot sequences for 2020 real-time recreation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi novel of the same name. The Abu Dhabi desert’s flame-hued aircraft masquerade as Arrakis, the harsh fictitious planet where Dune is located. Most of the jaw-dropping sequences are set in Jordan’s stunning Wadi Rum scenery, with filming also taking place in Hungary. It will be released internationally on October 1, 2021, as the first of a two-part film series.

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Hopefully, you are now aware of the key locations in the United Arab Emirates that may be useful for filming. Please continue to read Pickyourtrail for more fascinating blogs and book your Dubai tour from our Dubai tour packages site. To help you get over the lockdown and start travelling, we’ll assist you in customising your Dubai packages.

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