Exceptional architecture, seaside setting, traditional and cultural monuments, adventure sports sites, and inspiring locations off the beaten track... the Emirate of Abu Dhabi ticks all the boxes as a destination of choice for Hollywood directors. Focus on this cinematic Eldorado...
Covering more than 85% of the territory of the United Arab Emirates, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is officially becoming a destination of choice for Hollywood directors thanks to its wide range of tourist attractions combining tradition and modernity.
In the entertainment sector, the UAE government has made a significant investment to create a favorable environment. The entertainment ecosystem boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure and specially designed facilities, including the largest sound stages in the Middle East, which have enabled the realization of major film projects, such as Star Trek Beyond et Mission Impossible: The World.
Heavenly dunes
Surrounded by a vast desert, with an almost supernatural beauty, Abu Dhabi holds within its sanctuary a spectacular smooth dune that leaves visitors speechless. Exploring the splendid Liwa Desert, an area in the south of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, offers a boundless escape through its dunes that can measure up to 40 meters and its famous oasis, all on the back of a camel.
The best time to visit is certainly the cooler months, from October to March. The place remains closed in summer when it becomes too hot. Temperatures are said to only drop in late August, when a bright star called Sulhail appears above the southern horizon.
This idyllic panorama has inspired Hollywood directors to shoot films there, the most famous films that were shot there and that were successful being the famous " Star Wars: The Force Awakens » as well as the famous « Dune, » whose second opus will be released on November 03, 2023. Moreover, the Canadian director, screenwriter and producer of Dune had described the sand mountains as “hypnotic” and “incomparable”.
Hans Fraikin, Head of Film and Television at Abu Dhabi Commission, said: “ You can put a camera in the middle of the Liwa Desert and you won't see anything in the background, no cables, no planes, no cars, no streets. So for a movie, for an alien landscape like Arrakis in "Dune" or like the planet in "Star Wars," it's the perfect location."
The Louvre Abu Dhabi, artistic and emblematic
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is one of the most complex, evocative, and inspiring buildings in the modern world. Located on Saadiyat Island in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the Arab world's first universal art museum on the shores of the Persian Gulf, designed specifically by Jean Nouvel. Part of the film " 6 underground » from 2019 was filmed there, with Ryan Reynolds and Mélanie Laurent in the lead roles.
With its works of art from around the world, the Louvre brings Abu Dhabi to the forefront of the international cultural scene. The main objectives of this building are to provide free access to cultural exchange between artists and the public, both local and international, with a permanent collection that combines modern and historical works.
The building is covered by a 180-meter diameter, eight-layer dome patterned with geometric honeycomb rings (inspired by the iconic domes of Middle Eastern mosques), and its 23 galleries are clad in the traditional white of Abu Dhabi's desert settlements.
Small droplets of light emerge from the gaps in the geometric roof, creating a rain of light that accentuates the illumination of the galleries. At the same time, the streams of water that wind through the Louvre's canopy (the museum juts out into the waters surrounding Saadiyat Island) reflect the shimmering light from the dome, further adding to the building's sensational luminosity.
Etihad Towers, the towers that bend space and light
The towers site Etihad Towers is unique in its kind, boasting a symbolic and powerful design that represents change in Abu Dhabi. Drawing on the capital's history as a port city, the designers came up with the idea of inflatable sails by imagining the curves of the building.
Sketches of hawks and images of overlapping and unfurling flower petals provided the organic quality to the way the buildings were to be grouped. The result is a very specific grouping of towers, ensuring that no matter which direction you look at them, at least two of them are always visible.
The slightly reflective blue and silver glass used on the buildings bounces light in different directions. Depending on the time of day, some are highlighted while others are in shadow. This is all deliberate, and proves to be a veritable well of inspiration for a director's eye, especially that of Fast & Furious, whose several action scenes were filmed in the heart of the magnificent Etihad Towers et Emirates Palace.
Yas Waterworld and glamping sites
A leading leisure and entertainment destination and recognized as the “Middle East’s Leading Water Park 2022”, theYas Waterworld is one of the panoramas that has the particularity of making it the family destination par excellence.
Featuring 40 rides and attractions, six of which are the first and only in this region of the world, the park adapts to the era of visitors, dividing it into four levels of thrills. The park is home to the world's unrivaled, titanic tornado slide, which can accommodate six people simultaneously and is powered by hydromagnetic energy.
And for nature lovers, the Liwa Desert has glamping sites. For example, the ten tents at the camp Liwa Nights glamping adopt a rudimentary design, but hide inside luxurious comfort with king-size bed, air conditioning and integrated bathroom.
Patrick Koune
