Dubai and the UAE, the opulent places in the world, with a scenic skyline and magnificent view, have some of Bollywood’s favourite areas to shoot films. Over the years, the filmmakers have explored the luxurious lanes and skyscrapers to film the sequences, enhancing the sophistication and extravagance. From ‘Pathaan’ to ‘Partner,’ let’s take a look at the Bollywood films that were shot in Dubai and the UAE
‘Welcome’ franchise
The ‘Welcome’ film franchise, a comedy family drama, is renowned for its classic dialogue and memorable characters. A couple of party sequences and glorious scenes were shot in parts of Dubai, especially the Grand Hyatt Hotel at the edge of Dubai’s creek and Dragon Mart, according to Pick Your Trail.
‘Happy New Year’
‘Happy New Year’ dedicated an entire song, ‘Satakli,’ to the scenic views of Dubai, including a nod to the grand Burj Khalifa. Farah Khan’s film was shot in Dubai, with a majority of the film revolving around a dance competition in the UAE. The film was shot in a lavish hotel, Atlantis, The Palm.
‘Bang Bang!’
Siddharth Anand’s ‘Bang Bang!’ was shot in the scenic places of the UAE, where the skyscrapers served as the perfect balance to Hrithik Roshan’s fabulous action sequences. The film was shot in the Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel, the Emirates Palace, Yas Island, and the Liwa oasis, according to The Location Guide.
‘Airlift’
‘Airlift,’ the prominent film in Bollywood starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur, was shot in a couple of places in the UAE, specifically in Ras Al Khaimah. The structures complemented well to show the torn-out Kuwait after the attack by Iraq, accurately recreating the magic on the silver screen.
‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’
‘Bunty Aur Babli 2,’ the beautifully chaotic film, was shot in parts of Abu Dhabi, UAE, to show the luxurious backdrop of the con artists. Varun R. Sharma’s film was shot at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Emirates Palace for a sequence of the hotels, according to the Gulf News.
‘The Crew’
‘The Crew’ starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti Sanon, and Tabu, was shot in multiple opulent cities in the world, and one of which is the cosmopolitan city of Abu Dhabi. With the iconic UAE landmarks, the film captured the essence of the luxurious skyscrapers and the culture.
‘Pathaan’
‘Pathaan’ achieved impeccable success at the box office. The reason? The action sequences between Shah Rukh Khan and John Abraham were shot at the Burj Khalifa Boulevard. The reports suggest that the Boulevard was shut down for the first time to shoot the action sequence, which was the ‘toughest’ one ever, according to the film director Siddharth Anand.