Dubai’s city skyline takes your breath away – every time! It doesn’t matter how often you have visited this amazing city; its futuristic architecture has a way of leaving you awed, every time you look at them. From the towering Burj Khalifa to the pristine sands of the Dubai desert; it is a whole world made for the big screen. And it is no wonder then that Hollywood big-budget directors come calling here, over and over again.

With miles upon miles of breathtaking desert sands insight; it was an easy decision for Director and screenwriter Stephen Gaghan to bring his all-star cast to shoot many of the movie's desert scenes in the pristine environment of the Dubai deserts.

Starring such A-list casts like Hollywood’s leading actors such as George Clooney and Matt Damon; the movie drama takes a look at the dubious oil world where an American lawyer attempts to facilitate a shady merger of oil companies leading to both personal tragedy and opportunity for a Switzerland based energy analyst who gets a visit with the Arabian royalty while a veteran CIA agent, Bob Barnes, played by George Clooney uncovers an assassination plot that could have very-reaching consequences.

Of the movies that have been shot in Dubai, Mission Impossible IV is perhaps the biggest of them all – certainly the biggest on this shortlist. 

The movie is quickly recalled for its heart-stopping moments when Ethan Hunt, played by the franchise lead actor, Tom Cruise, hangs on for life on the Burj Khalifa; a scene that reportedly took 23 grueling days and over 400 crew personnel to achieve as Tom Cruise insisted on shooting the stunt action himself.

While the scene leaves you nail-biting at the dizzying heights looking down from the Burj Khalifa; it however rewards viewers with a sweeping view of the city’s horizon.

As most fans of Star Wars awaited the release of the 2015 franchise of the movie with bated breath; UAE-based film enthusiasts equally anticipated the opportunity spotting familiar city features as parts of the movie were actually shot a short distance away from Dubai city center. 

As part of an elaborate set, the Abu Dhabi desert was transformed to contain a spacecraft like a shuttle; a large tower and life-sized market were all built in the desert. It is possible to still experience this amazing scene by booking a desert safari from Dubai. 

As most fans of Star Wars awaited the release of the 2015 franchise of the movie with bated breath; UAE-based film enthusiasts equally anticipated the opportunity spotting familiar city features as parts of the movie were actually shot a short distance away from Dubai city center. 

As part of an elaborate set, the Abu Dhabi desert was transformed to contain a spacecraft like a shuttle; a large tower and life-sized market were all built in the desert. It is possible to still experience this amazing scene by booking a desert safari from Dubai. 

This movie by acclaimed Emirati director Ali F. Mostafa holds the distinction of being the first main English-language feature film to be shot entirely in Dubai. City of Life brings to the big screen the reality of Dubai’s multicultural population as the lives of three characters, an Arab man, an Indian taxi driver, and a Romanian flight attendant converge in a tale of profound hope in the face of tragedy and loss.

Highlighting Dubai’s ethnic and class division, the movie which was well received at home and internationally helped establish Director Ali Mostafa as one of the best directors in the Arab world.

The movie was shot in Karama, Dubai Creek, and many other locations, within and around the city.

The 2016 sci-fi film Star Trek Beyond features portions of Dubai's future cityscape and is another Hollywood blockbuster. Dubai is portrayed as a Federation Starbase known as Yorktown, which is met by the Starship Enterprise crew on their cosmic adventure, and was shot in July 2015.

Some of the neighborhoods featured in the movie included those with sky-high towers, such as Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah Lakes Towers, which played a starring role and still attract a lot of visitors hoping to spot familiar architectural backdrops. 

The movie’s release in July of 2016 which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the original Star Trek series made it a huge experience for every sci-fi fan and showcased Dubai’s amazing and larger-than-life landmarks to the world. 

Dubai remains one of the most amazing and exciting cities to visit. But for movie aficionados, it provides added interest to walk the very sites where some of the most interesting movies in recent times were shot. You’re sure to have a blockbuster experience!

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