With its ochre vastness and dramatic sandstone heights, Jordan's Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, has long been a favourite among Hollywood filmmakers scouting for otherworldly vistas.
The desert has doubled for Mars in several blockbusters including The Martian and Red Planet. It has been the site for fictional desert planets in films from the Star Wars franchise and Dune.
This is where Rey confronted Kylo Ren, where Paul Atreides had his fevered visions, and where Dr Mark Watney grew Martian potatoes. It is also where Aladdin found the Cave of Wonders and befriended the Genie. And this is just the tip of the iceberg, a few cracks on the cliff face or a palmful of sand from a dune — whichever the topographic-specific metaphor fits best here.
In other words, it’s hard to find a desert on this side of the globe with a more expansive cinematic history than Wadi Rum.
“There are some 600 projects that are filmed here every year,” says Bashar Abu Nuwar, a senior coordinator at the Royal Film Commission. “This includes advertisements, music videos, short films, as well as feature-length works.”
“The most recent big works filmed here were Dune and Mohamed Diab’s Moon Knight series,” he says. “There was also the still-unreleased Korean blockbuster The Negotiation that was the first film to be shot here after the pandemic. The cast and crew were here for a month in the summer of 2020 and shot in 16 locations across Jordan, including Wadi Rum.”
Other notable films that have been shot in the area include the 2009 Michael Bay blockbuster Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and the 2017 Ridley Scott thriller All The Money in the World. In those films, however, Wadi Rum doubled as deserts from neighbouring Middle Eastern countries.
One film that makes use of Wadi Rum’s photogenic aspects while incorporating the landscape in its plot is Naji Abu Nowar’s Oscar-nominated film Theeb. The coming-of-age drama from 2014 is set during the First World War and features a cast made up largely of Bedouins from the area, with no previous acting experience.
The film that started it all, however, and introduced this spectacular landscape to the wider world, is the 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia.
This is fitting, considering this is historically where the events of the film actually took place.
There are several locations that stand as a testament to the 1917 Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire. One of them is a canyon that served as the base of operations for British explorer and army officer Thomas Edward Lawrence, Emir Auda Abu Tayeh and Abdullah I bin al-Husayn, who would go on to become the first king of Jordan. The canyon's shade provided cool breeze during sweltering summer months and was strategically advantageous as it amplified surrounding sounds and alerted the base of incoming forces.
Another of Wadi Rum’s most popular hiking trails also alludes to the British explorer. The Seven Pillars of Wisdom is a rock formation located in the Wadi Rum World Reserve and is a Unesco World Heritage site. It inspired the name of Lawrence’s autobiographical account of the revolt — the title is drawn from the third section of the Book of Proverbs.
There are other sites that also pay homage to Lawrence and the revolt, including Lawrence’s House, which is where the British personality is rumoured to have stayed during his time in the desert. Local Bedouins call the site The Small Palace.
Wadi Rum’s historical significance, however, stretches back much, much further. Seashells can be found across the desert as testament to the site being underwater millions of years ago. Archaeological findings suggest the area has been inhabited since as early as 4500 BC.
The area is believed to have been settled by the Nabateans even before Petra. An ancient Thamudic temple at the foot of Jabal Rum, the mountains that lend their name to the wadi, was renovated about 2,000 years ago by the ancient civilisation. Nabatean inscriptions, some of which date back to 350 BC, are carved on the sandstones — the petroglyphs guided travellers as they crossed the harsh desert.
The desert’s contemporaries are just as fascinating.
Much of Jordan’s produce can be traced to the agricultural efforts of Wadi Rum’s local population. Besides agriculture, the Bedouins here have also found a dependable source of income from the filmmaking industry, helping cinematographers scout for picturesque locations or to give them insight into the desert’s idiosyncrasies.
One such person is Yanal Abdulaziz Al Zawaidah, who has been involved in Wadi Rum’s filmmaking scene since Red Planet. The 2000 science-fiction film, which stars Val Kilmer and Carrie-Ann Moss, may have been a critical and commercial bomb, but it instilled in Al Zawaidah a lifelong fascination for the filmmaking process.
“I was little, about 5 years old,” he says. “I went with my father to help cordon off the filming area to prevent people and cars from crossing the area and interrupting the shooting process. I’ve been involved in films ever since. I grew up in the film world.
“Even today, we enrol in workshops offered by the Royal Film Commission, from production to scriptwriting,” he says. “It familiarises us with the filmmaking process.”
Al Zawaidah is one of the people who international production companies task to guide them across deserts, scouting for film locations. He drives us along a dirt track that has been colloquially named Disney Road, as it has been used by the mega-corporation to bring in filming equipment for projects including Aladdin, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, as well as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, all projects that Al Zawaidah has been involved in. Along the way, he points out to towering rock formations that are named by the locals according to what they are visually reminiscent of.
There is the Titanic, which is shaped like a boat, and The Face, which has contours resembling a nose and lips. He then takes us to the rock arches featured in the 2019 live-action remake of Aladdin, as well as the large rocky hill, from which a 20-metre-high green screen was hung for the Cave of Wonders.
When asked whether he has photos of what must have been a spectacular sight, Al Zawaidah says that the cast and crew are usually forbidden to take shots during production, to avoid leaks. It is a rule that Al Zawaidah says he and other locals working in the film sector take seriously.
“We never take any pictures or videos,” he says. “We’ve experienced many memorable moments during film productions, and we’re happy to simply recollect them."
Al Zawaidah has a unique understanding of Wadi Rum’s topography, even when compared to his Bedouin compatriots. As we drive across its flatlands and dunes, he points at lone shrubs and greenery, elaborating on their individual properties and how they are used to treat burns and wounds. He also explains how, before water reservoirs were installed, local Bedouins sourced water, finding recesses in the sandstones, which rainfall had filled, and drinking the water through a gauze filter. He points to the varying colours of the sand, from an alabaster white, which kick up in dust clouds as vehicles drive across, to a deep red.
“Whenever I want to be by myself, I head out to the red patches,” he says. “Those areas are heavy with iron and can really help get rid of negative energy. But to tell you the truth, I don’t have a favourite spot. Each area has its own purpose, its own allure. The city you live in, you learn its every landmark and meter, don’t you? It’s the same for us. I can identify these areas even at night.”
Besides its appeal among film professionals, Wadi Rum is also a popular tourist destination, particularly for those looking to indulge in a pseudo-Martian vacation.
Several luxury camps have popped up in the areas outside the protected jurisdictions. One such property is Sun City Camp, which features large bubble-like tents that are built, Royal Film Commission's Abu Nuwar says, by the same German company that oversaw the set of The Martian.
Each tent is air-conditioned and equipped with a queen-sized bed, spacious bathroom and breathtaking views of the surrounding desert. Most impressive is the plastic film that makes up its floor to bubble-top windows. The plastic is cool to the touch, despite being subject to direct sunlight all day. Tents average at $150 a night, depending on seasonal rates.
The camp’s visitors can also dig into a traditional Bedouin barbecue, or zarb. The ancient technique involves cooking meat, chicken, vegetables and rice on metal racks that are blanketed in foil and buried in sand. The food is roasted slowly in the coal-filled pit over the course of several hours. The meat, chicken, carrots and potatoes come out with a crunchy exterior, but a tender, juicy interior.
“It’ll do no good explaining it,” Al Zawaidah says. “You have to taste it to really know how unique it is.”
As breathtaking as Wadi Rum is during the day, it is even more spectacular at night, Al Zawaidah says.
“The four biggest telescopes in the Middle East are here,” he says. “But even without them, you can see details with the naked eye that are humbling.”
Al Zawaidah advises all those looking to come to Wadi Rum to seek out a Bedouin guide to decipher the language and history of the desert, as well as to experience, first-hand, the hospitable nature of Wadi Rum’s locals.
“This is our house, and we don’t want people to take the wrong idea about their house."
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
RESULTS
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
More on animal trafficking
Pathaan
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
China and the UAE agree comprehensive strategic partnership
China and the UAE forged even closer links between the two countries during the landmark state visit after finalising a ten-point agreement on a range of issues, from international affairs to the economy and trade and renewable energy.
1. Politics: The two countries agreed to support each other on issues of security and to work together on regional and international challenges. The nations also confirmed that the number of high-level state visits between China and the UAE will increase.
2. Economy: The UAE offers its full support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will combine a land 'economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" that will link China with the Arabian Gulf as well as Southeast, South and Central China, North Africa and, eventually, Europe.
3. Business and innovation: The two nations are committed to exploring new partnerships in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, energy, the aviation and transport industries and have vowed to build economic co-operation through the UAE-China Business Committee.
4. Education, science and technology: The Partnership Programme between Arab countries in Science and Technology will encourage young Emirati scientists to conduct research in China, while the nations will work together on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, renewable energy and space projects.
5. Renewable energy and water: The two countries will partner to develop renewable energy schemes and work to reduce climate change. The nations have also reiterated their support for the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency.
6. Oil and gas: The UAE and China will work in partnership in the crude oil trade and the exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources.
7. Military and law enforcement and security fields: Joint training will take place between the Chinese and UAE armed forces, while the two nations will step up efforts to combat terrorism and organised crime.
8. Culture and humanitarian issues: Joint cultural projects will be developed and partnerships will be cultivated on the preservation of heritage, contemporary art and tourism.
9. Movement between countries: China and the UAE made clear their intent to encourage travel between the countries through a wide-ranging visa waiver agreement.
10. Implementing the strategic partnership: The Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee, established last year, will be used to ensure the objectives of the partnership are implemented.
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
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Read more about the coronavirus
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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
Dunki
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
