Both Dune films have relied on Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter to depict the planet of Arrakis.
While the first installment – released in 2021 – comprised five days of filming in the emirate, the production team spent almost a month in the desert for the sequel.
It was not just the photogenic landscape, the sandy dunes rolling into the horizon, that lured the film back to Abu Dhabi. That was a definite selling point, of course, as most of Dune takes place in a desert planet and the Empty Quarter is arid, expansive and lends itself beautifully to the film.
But there were other factors that perhaps made Abu Dhabi an alluring place for Denis Villeneuve to bring the anticipated sequel to the science fiction epic back to Abu Dhabi, this time for longer.
Dune: Part Two is not the first blockbuster to film in Abu Dhabi. Over the years, the emirate has hosted several Hollywood and Bollywood productions, including Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, 6 Underground, Tiger Zinda Hai and The Misfits. While the cash rebates and incentives are definitely an added allure, it is also the emirate’s willingness to efficiently facilitate the production process for international projects, which often span various government departments.
The Abu Dhabi Film Commission and the Creative Media Agency are at the centre of this network, working to streamline communications and ensure all the cogs of the production process are working properly.
After all, a village had to be built in the middle of the desert for the production of Dune: Part Two. More than 1,000 people worked on the film while it was in Abu Dhabi, and ensuring swift mobility of equipment, cast and crew was paramount.
“We were filming for 27 days in the desert,” says Sameer Al Jaberi, head of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission. “You might think of accommodation. So where would they be staying? Obviously, Qasr Al Sarab did an amazing job housing almost all of the crew, but there were still more. We had 300 local crew, 250 international, and 500 extras. That’s a massive number. To come up with a creative solution, along with Epic Films, the local production company, built a village in the desert.”
This village, built from repurposed containers, had all the amenities one can think of. From bedrooms and laundry services to cafes. It was large enough to house and sustain more than 150 people, while being accessible to the 20 locations in the desert that were used for filming.
“With all these locations, [it was important] to move easily with a large amount of crew members,” Al Jaberi says. He adds that the commission worked with several institutions, including the Environmental Agency, the municipalities of the Dhafrah region and Abu Dhabi, as well as local production companies, to build a 30km road that would facilitate smooth transportation of the crew and the heavy equipment.
Al Jaberi says that each blockbuster that comes to Abu Dhabi brings forth its own set of challenges. For Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, for instance, which was filmed during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, special measures had to be taken to ensure the safety of the crew. The commission, Al Jaberi says, has become well accustomed to dealing with each challenge that unfolds, and a silver lining is that over the years, the rapport between different government departments has strengthened as a result.
“With every project, there is some sort of an educational process that happens between us and the stakeholders and the government entities,” he says. “With time, you see that almost all government entities speak our language.”
Mohammed Dobay, acting director general of the Creative Media Authority, says Dune: Part Two, along with the other blockbusters that have been shot in Abu Dhabi, work to strengthen the emirate’s creative sector across many facets.
“One of the main mandates of the CMA is to develop creative industry in Abu Dhabi,” Dobay says. “It is to position Abu Dhabi as a global, not just regional, creative hub. This means offering the facilities for the full cycle of production.”
The fact that the Dune team returned to Abu Dhabi to film for an extended period while filming the sequel is proof that it isn’t just the locations that are attracting large-scale productions to the emirate.
“It’s proof that they are amazed by the full ecosystem, from the collaborating companies in the private sector to the government services,” Dobay says. “We are inspired by our leadership. How they plan to diversify the economy. The filmmaking sector is a humble arm, but we are proud of it and its impact on the GDP.”
Another key mandate for the CMA is to help boost local talents in terms of skillset and opportunities. The organisation oversees institutions within the creative sector such as Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Film Commission, along with Creative Lab and Arab Film Studio, which is focused on talent development. As part of the incentive deals that bring in international productions, local talents are required to join in the production process, working along a range of departments.
A handful of interns were part of the local production wing of Dune: Part 2. These included Amna Al Darmaki, Mouza Al Darmaki, Ghena Al Satti, Thoraya Farzaneh and Khaled Al Hosani. They were were selected after applying through the TwoFour54 website, and were eventually picked after a rigorous screening process.
Al Satti, for instance, assisted the film’s wardrobe department, specifically working on costumes for extras. A freelance photographer, she says the experience helped her develop her understanding of set design and her organisational skills.
“I do small projects by myself,” she says. “This is a very big scale production. I did not have enough knowledge about wardrobe and costumes, because it's different from just styling in general. I learnt a lot from that, which I can incorporate into my freelance business.”
Al Darmaki, on the other hand, was involved in the film’s visual effects department. She had previously interned in the director of photography department at Image Nation AD and on the MBC production for the series Al Meerath. Dune: Part Two, however, presented a new learning experience for her as she developed insights on how large-scale productions conceive their special effects.
“I never expected to be part of the project,” she says. “It was challenging. I worked directly with [visual effects supervisor] Paul Lambert. I shadowed him throughout the experience. I wanted to understand how he came up with his ideas. Because with the first Dune film, it was the first time I see VFX of that kind. They didn’t use green or blue screens, but brown to blend more with the theme and the desert landscape. It was so reflections wouldn’t disrupt the lighting or the aesthetic.”
Al Hosani, meanwhile, worked in the film’s camera department. An up-and-coming filmmaker, Al Hosani has taken part in several local and regional productions. Again, Dune: Part Two presented an opportunity to work a project that was at an unprecedented scale.
“We worked from sunrise to sunset,” he says. “Working under the DOP Greig Fraser was a great experience. We saw how challenging it was to shoot in a landscape such as the desert practically, but he still achieved the idea and image he had in mind.
"We had to carry equipment to where cars couldn’t reach. It was challenging but rewarding. The project was a large-scale one, and it opened doors for me, job opportunities that came afterwards. I learnt a lot, about the equipment that we used, as well as technical aspects.”
Dune: Part Two releases in UAE and Lebanon on February 29, and is scheduled for a wider regional release on the April 11
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
More coverage from the Future Forum
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The%20specs
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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The five pillars of Islam
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday
AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)
Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)
Benevento v Parma (5pm)
Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)
Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)
Lazio v Spezia (5pm)
Napoli v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)
Torino v Juventus (8pm)
Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Bernardo Silva 16', Sterling 57', Gundogan 79'
Bournemouth 1
Wilson 44'
Man of the match: Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
The years Ramadan fell in May
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
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Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
