‘Dune: Part Three’ to Film in Abu Dhabi's Liwa Desert Later This Year

The Liwa Desert is once again set to become the backdrop for one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. The Abu Dhabi Film Commission has confirmed that Dune: Part Three will begin filming in the capital later this year, ahead of its December 2026 release.

Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya will reprise their roles, with Jason Momoa also returning to the cast after his absence in the second installment. Director Denis Villeneuve has hinted that this film will take a different creative direction, describing it as a story with “its own identity” rather than a continuation of the first two films.

The production will receive logistical support from the Creative Media Authority and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission, with Image Nation Abu Dhabi serving as a production partner.

Abu Dhabi has become a regular feature in major international productions, with recent shoots including F1 The Movie starring Brad Pitt and the upcoming Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.