The glamourous metropolis of Dubai, magnificent desert views and pristine beaches in the UAE make it one of the most cinematic destinations in the Middle East. The UAE is known to host several mega film events and is also a popular destination for the sets of Bollywood movies, with many unforgettable screen moments that have taken place here.
If you’re gearing up for a trip to the UAE and are looking for some movie-inspired hotspots, here we have rounded up the best Bollywood movies filmed in the UAE, including Dubai. Travellers can also book cheap flights to the UAE with carriers like Emirates, Flydubai, Indigo and Air India, which operate regular flights to the UAE’s major cities.
Race 3
Travel and film enthusiasts will be happy to know that the Race 3 film was shot in some unique locations in the UAE. For the sets of Race 3, the production team chose 5 filming locations in Abu Dhabi, including Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Emirates Palace, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, Emirates Steel and the St Regis Abu Dhabi. The Liwa Desert, located at the edge of the UAE’s most fantastic desert region, Rub Al Khali and was also chosen as one of the film sets.
Dishoom
Starring Bollywood actors John Abraham and Varun Dhawan, the feature film ‘Dishoom’ was shot in some dramatic locations in Abu Dhabi, such as Ferrari World, Reem Island and Yas Waterworld. The filming crew also shot a high-speed boat chase scene off the Abu Dhabi Corniche in the sea. The duo played the role of investigative cops, trying to track down a missing man in an undisclosed Arab country. The action and drama scenes were filmed over 45-days across 30 locations in Abu Dhabi.
Welcome
The comedy ensemble of the Bollywood film ‘Welcome’ guarantees to keep you on the edge of your seat laughing. With comedy superstars like Paresh Raval and Nana Patekar, the movie ‘Welcome’ was one of the highest-grossing films in 2007. It featured locations like Grand Hyatt and Dragon Mart in Dubai. In addition, the sequel to the 2007 blockbuster – ‘Welcome Back’ (2015) was the first Indian film to be shot at the iconic Burj Khalifa.
Dabangg 2
The movie ‘Dabangg 2’ was shot primarily in Dubai and starred Bollywood actor Salman Khan and actress Sonakshi Sinha. The film also featured the popular song ‘Saanson Ne’, for which the scenes were shot at the Burjuman Metro station (Dubai Metro). The movie serves as a sequel to the film Dabangg (2010). It continues the story centred around the police inspector Chulbul Pandey, head of the Kanpur police station, who tracks down an assassin who has murdered a witness about to testify against a dangerous gangster.
Humari Adhuri Kahani
The movie’s plot is centered around unrequited love and has a couple of stunning moments that were shot in Dubai. One such noteworthy scene is with Emraan Hashmi at the centre of Dubai Miracle Park (the biggest natural garden in the world), as well as the film scenes shot at Dubai Creek and the lively Meena Bazaar.
Humari Adhuri Kahani movie director – Mohit Suri also stated that the UAE had been the ‘perfect kind of romanticism that was essential to the movie plot’. The cast continued filming in the UAE for many weeks around locations like Bur Dubai, Shaikh Zayed Road, Dubai Creek, Dubai International Airport and Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort in Abu Dhabi.
The luxury five-star hotels, picturesque skylines and dazzling monuments make the UAE and Dubai the pinnacle of luxury. Hence, the city attracts the attention of filmmakers from all over. If you’re gearing up for a trip to the UAE and looking for movie-inspired hotspots, you must check out these places for a fun-filled vacay!