Denis Villeneuve's big movie saga is almost finished. The golden sand of the Liwa Desert is once again the home of the planet Arrakis. Dune: Part Three will end one of the most loved sci-fi trilogies of this decade, and Abu Dhabi is a big part of its success.

A Desert That Became Famous

Since 2021, the sand dunes of Liwa have given Villeneuve's movies a real, natural look. No studio screen could do this. For the third film, the team went back to the same desert they used before, spending 31 days in Abu Dhabi, including two days in Al Ain. Some desert scenes were also filmed in Wadi Rum, Jordan, a location the franchise has used across all three films.

The Abu Dhabi Film Commission shared behind-the-scenes videos after the movie's teaser came out. Fans got an early look at how the desert becomes Arrakis on screen.

Filming Details

Filming started on July 8, 2025, at Origo Studios in Budapest. It lasted a little more than four months and wrapped on November 11, 2025. The desert scenes from Liwa keep the film's classic style: a real, harsh, sandy world.

The cast is full of big stars. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya return in their main roles. Two new actors join them: Robert Pattinson and Anya Taylor-Joy. Hans Zimmer comes back to write the music.

At a global trailer event this week, Chalamet talked about what filming in the desert felt like. "If you ever have the chance to go there, it is extraordinary, how still the mornings were," he said. He compared the experience to a safari, saying it felt like a special, peaceful walk to work each day (source).

What Happens Next

The story is based on Frank Herbert's book Dune Messiah. Part Three follows Paul Atreides years after he becomes powerful. He now faces rebellion, danger from people close to him, and a huge war across the galaxy. Villeneuve wrote the script with Brian K. Vaughan. Warner Bros. confirmed the release date: Dune: Part Three comes to theaters in North America on December 18, 2026, with an international release starting December 16.

An Emirati Stuntman's Big Moment

One person's story shows how much bigger this film became for Abu Dhabi. Mohamed Mostafa, an Emirati actor, got a phone call from a stunt coordinator he knew from past work. The man said he had something huge for him. Mostafa said yes before he even heard what the job was. It turned out to be Dune: Part Three (source).

Mostafa worked as a stunt performer on the film, his first official credit in that role. In one scene, he had to fight using his weaker hand, which pushed him to adapt fast, something he says he loves about filmmaking. He also got to watch and learn from stars like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem up close (source).

"I'm very proud to have been part of this project and to have represented the UAE," Mostafa said.

His story is part of a much bigger picture. The first Dune film spent only five days filming in Abu Dhabi. Dune: Part Three spent 31 days there and involved more than 600 UAE-based people: local crew, stunt performers, interns, contractors, and residents who appeared in crowd scenes. This growth shows how much trust and experience Abu Dhabi has built with Hollywood over time. 

Abu Dhabi Keeps Growing as a Movie Hub

This is not Abu Dhabi's only big film. More than 180 movies and TV shows have filmed there. This list includes Sonic the Hedgehog, F1, Mission: Impossible, Star Wars, Fast & Furious, and the newer film Now You See Me: Now You Don't, which also used Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and the Liwa Desert earlier in 2025. Abu Dhabi offers beautiful nature, modern buildings, and a rebate of up to 35% for film companies. This is why big directors keep choosing it.

With Dune: Part Three, Abu Dhabi shows its biggest movie moment yet. When Paul Atreides' story ends this December, people around the world will look at the golden sand of Liwa and see one thing clearly: the planet Arrakis.

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