Written by on Jul 13, 2015. Posted in On Location

Star Trek 3 to film partly in Dubai

Star Trek Beyond, the third in the rebooted Star Trek franchise, will film scenes on location in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this year. The production is likely to be the biggest Hollywood shoot to have filmed in Dubai since Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

The new Star Trek film will continue the adventures of the young Kirk and Spock, and is already shooting its studio work in Vancouver.

“Not only will this shine the spotlight on Dubai and the UAE’s excellent locations, infrastructure and flexibility, but it will significantly boost the UAE’s economy, tourism and entertainment sectors,” said Jamal Al Sharif, chairman of Dubai Film and TV Commission and managing director of Dubai Studio City.

“The shooting of this film in the emirate is a real testament to Dubai and the UAE’s development into a hub for film and production, and Paramount Pictures joins the growing interest from regional and international filmmakers who are recognising the emirate as an established filming destination.”

“The city’s world-renowned architecture, diverse landscapes and attractions are proving increasingly attractive to filmmakers and we are seeing Dubai gain a reputation as a world-class filming location,” added Issam Kazim, head of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

“In turn, these factors are portrayed to viewers across the globe, raising awareness and reinforcing Dubai’s reputation as a world-class tourist destination.”

Dubai is a popular filming location for Indian productions but has struggled to attract large-scale Hollywood shoots since Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Part of the issue is that the city does not offer a formal filming incentive, with authorities preferring instead to tailor support packages for specific shoots on a case-by-case basis.

In contrast, Abu Dhabi has a 30% filming incentive in place and in the past year has hosted a key action sequence from Fast & Furious 7, as well as scenes for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

(Image: Paramount)