10 Hollywood blockbusters that were filmed in Abu Dhabi
Big-budget action, sci-fi and drama films filmed right here in the UAE capital
ABU DHABI: From star-studded car chases to sweeping sci-fi epics, Abu Dhabi has fast become one of Hollywood’s favourite backdrops.
With its vast deserts, sleek skylines and world-class production support, the UAE capital has hosted some of the biggest names and boldest scenes in modern cinema. Major franchises like Mission: Impossible, Dune and Fast & Furious have all rolled cameras here – often transforming familiar landmarks into intergalactic outposts, war zones, or high-octane escape routes.
Here’s a look at ten Hollywood blockbusters – plus joint productions – that were filmed entirely or significantly in Abu Dhabi.
F1 (2025)
Releasing next month, the Apple-backed Formula One film starring Brad Pitt was partly shot during the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Yas Marina Circuit will feature prominently in racing scenes, with Pitt playing a retired F1 driver returning to mentor a young prodigy. Additional sequences were filmed at Zayed International Airport. The production, directed by Joseph Kosinski, brought Hollywood and the real F1 paddock together in one of the UAE’s most high-profile filming events yet.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert once again stood in as the fictional planet Arrakis in Dune: Part Two.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the sequel filmed over 27 days across nearly 30 desert locations. The cast – Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler and Florence Pugh – were based at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara during the shoot. With over 500 extras and hundreds of crew involved, this production became one of the largest foreign shoots in Abu Dhabi to date.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Tom Cruise returned to Abu Dhabi to film intense action sequences for the seventh instalment of Mission: Impossible.
Scenes were shot inside the Midfield Terminal (now Zayed International Airport) and in the Liwa Desert. The filming took place over two weeks in 2021 and concluded with a star-studded premiere at Emirates Palace. The film once again highlighted Abu Dhabi’s dual appeal as both a futuristic urban and vast desert filming location.
The Misfits (2021)
This Emirati-Hollywood co-production brought Pierce Brosnan to the UAE capital, where The Misfits filmed across several landmarks including Etihad Towers, Saadiyat Island, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Local actors joined a cast that also included Tim Roth and Jamie Chung. The heist thriller was shot extensively in Abu Dhabi, with support from Image Nation Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, marking a high-profile collaboration between UAE and US film industries.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Although largely animated, Sonic the Hedgehog includes real-world desert visuals filmed in the Liwa region.
Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter doubled for Egyptian landscapes in the movie. A small production unit used drones and helicopters to capture sweeping shots of the dunes, which were later integrated with CGI for chase scenes involving Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik.
6 Underground (2019)
Michael Bay’s action-packed 6 Underground brought Ryan Reynolds to Abu Dhabi for a shoot that covered more than two dozen UAE locations.
Filmed over a month, the movie used Etihad Towers, Aldar HQ, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Liwa Desert. The film’s budget reportedly exceeded $150 million, with Abu Dhabi providing helicopters, military props, and logistical support through the film commission’s incentive programme.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
One of the film’s standout stunts – the HALO jump – was filmed over the Abu Dhabi desert.
Tom Cruise jumped from a C-17 aircraft at 25,000 feet, with a cinematographer jumping alongside him to capture the sequence in real-time. ADNEC was also used for interior shots portraying a fictional NATO base. The film’s complex shoot in the UAE highlighted the emirate’s capacity for high-risk, high-reward action filming.
War Machine (2017)
Brad Pitt’s dark comedy War Machine was partly shot in Abu Dhabi, standing in for Kabul and other Afghan locations.
The production, completed in 2016, used around twenty different sites, including Abu Dhabi International Airport and the ADNEC centre. Several scenes involved transforming local buildings and streets into makeshift Afghan military bases. Pitt and his crew stayed in the capital during the 22-day shoot.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
J.J. Abrams selected Abu Dhabi’s vast dunes to represent the desert planet Jakku in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Filming began in May 2014 across areas in the Liwa Desert and the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes. The set was kept tightly secured, with six weeks of filming involving hundreds of crew. Massive props, including the crashed Star Destroyer and Rey’s AT-AT home, were built on location. The production was supported by a 30% rebate from the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and helped position the emirate as a viable sci-fi destination.
Furious 7 (2015)
A now-iconic scene in Furious 7 shows Vin Diesel and Paul Walker launching a $3.4 million Lykan Hypersport across the Etihad Towers.
Shot over six days in April 2014, the film made heavy use of the Emirates Palace and the city’s skyscrapers. The production also worked with local talent and stunt coordinators to execute some of the franchise’s most ambitious action scenes. It was the first major blockbuster to put Abu Dhabi on the global filming map.