Actress Rosamund Pike on location at Yas Island during the filming of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. Photo: Lionsgate
Actress Rosamund Pike on location at Yas Island during the filming of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. Photo: Lionsgate
Actress Rosamund Pike on location at Yas Island during the filming of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. Photo: Lionsgate
Actress Rosamund Pike on location at Yas Island during the filming of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. Photo: Lionsgate

Now You See Me: Now You Don't wraps filming with 13-day shoot in Abu Dhabi


William Mullally
  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi plays a major role in the upcoming film Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. The highly anticipated threequel to the magic-themed heist thriller series, set to be released in November, wrapped production with an action-packed, 13-day shoot across the UAE capital.

The film, which stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Rosamund Pike and Morgan Freeman, prominently features many of the emirate’s famed sites, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Bridge and the Liwa desert. Clymb Yas Island, Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit and W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island are also included in the film directed by Ruben Fleischer (Venom).

Sameer Al Jaberi, head of Abu Dhabi Film Commission, tells The National that the emirate was brought into the process while the movie was still being written.

Director Ruben Fleischer during filming near the Yas Marina Circuit. Photo: Lionsgate
Director Ruben Fleischer during filming near the Yas Marina Circuit. Photo: Lionsgate

“The team actually began working with Lionsgate back in 2023 when the production was at an early scripting stage," Al Jaberi says. "We worked with Epic Films throughout – from supporting several recce trips where Lionsgate selected a variety of locations, right through to the production team arriving to shoot, 19 months later.”

Abu Dhabi’s prominence will help add to the international appeal of the film, says Matt Leonetti, Lionsgate’s president of physical production. “The Now You See Me films have always taken audiences on global adventures, and this film is no exception. Abu Dhabi’s iconic locations and incredible people will be part of what makes this film so enjoyable and memorable for worldwide audiences,” he says.

The production, which participated in the emirate’s rebate scheme that was launched in 2013 and updated in January, featured large-scale, complex stunt-work for its action set pieces, requiring roads to be closed.

Ariana Greenblatt during filming for Now You See Me: Now You Don't, near the W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island. Photo: Lionsgate
Ariana Greenblatt during filming for Now You See Me: Now You Don't, near the W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island. Photo: Lionsgate

“We facilitated on ground support with other government departments including the Abu Dhabi Police and Department of Municipalities and Transport, and the Miral Destinations team were also instrumental in making the production possible,” says Al Jaberi.

Six UAE interns, including young Emirati talent, also participated in the shoot, in conjunction with the Creative Media Authority.

“The six individuals had roles across the locations, action vehicles, camera, wardrobe and production departments and were on set across the 13-day shoot, learning directly from the heads of departments and professional teams visiting talent involved in this large-scale international production,” says Al Jaberi.

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is one of more than 180 major productions that have used Abu Dhabi as a location in recent years. That list includes the coming F1, as well as hits such as Dune, Dune: Part Two, Sonic the Hedgehog and Netflix’s 6 Underground and War Machine, as well as entries from the Mission: Impossible, Star Wars and Fast and Furious franchises.

The biog

Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi

Age: 23

How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them

Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need

Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman

Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs 

Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20US%20Congress%20explained
%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20one%20of%20three%20branches%20of%20the%20US%20government%2C%20and%20the%20one%20that%20creates%20the%20nation's%20federal%20laws%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20Congress%20is%20divided%20into%20two%20chambers%3A%20The%20House%20of%20Representatives%20and%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%C2%A0The%20House%20is%20made%20up%20of%20435%20members%20based%20on%20a%20state's%20population.%20House%20members%20are%20up%20for%20election%20every%20two%20years%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20bill%20must%20be%20approved%20by%20both%20the%20House%20and%20Senate%20before%20it%20goes%20to%20the%20president's%20desk%20for%20signature%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%20218%20seats%20to%20be%20in%20control%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20The%20Senate%20is%20comprised%20of%20100%20members%2C%20with%20each%20state%20receiving%20two%20senators.%20Senate%20members%20serve%20six-year%20terms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E-%20A%20political%20party%20needs%2051%20seats%20to%20control%20the%20Senate.%20In%20the%20case%20of%20a%2050-50%20tie%2C%20the%20party%20of%20the%20president%20controls%20the%20Senate%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Empires%20of%20the%20Steppes%3A%20A%20History%20of%20the%20Nomadic%20Tribes%20Who%20Shaped%20Civilization
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKenneth%20W%20Harl%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHanover%20Square%20Press%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E576%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

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

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Updated: April 25, 2025, 5:07 AM`