The rich and the famous love talking about their experiences while visiting Dubai. From the ultra-luxurious seven-star hotel Burj Al Arab to the towering Burj Khalifa standing tall amidst the skies, Dubai has been the go-to spot for celebrities and A-listers from all over the globe. Be it Hollywood or Bollywood, pop singers or rappers, the city’s extravagance has always attracted more stars into the country to spoil themselves and take a much-needed respite from their busy lives.
Curious to know which of your favourite Hollywood celebrities love visiting the Emirates? Here is a quick rundown of famous Hollywood celebrities that have been spotted in Dubai over the years.
Lindsay Lohan
Hollywood’s heartthrob and the iconic Parent Trap and Mean Girls star Lindsay Lohan first visited Dubai in 2008, right after the completion of building the luxury hotel Atlantis the Palm. In a recent interview in 2020 with David Spade, she vividly recalls the exponential growth the city had gone through from her initial years of visiting when there was no DIFC, Dubai Mall or Downtown Dubai. In fact, she adored the city so much that she now resides in Dubai and is a resident of the UAE.
Jackie Chan
The much-adored Hollywood actor Jackie Chan absolutely loves visiting the Emirates! In his own words from an interview, he says, “After Kung Fu Yoga, I go back, I tell all my friends – no matter Hong Kong, Taiwan, all the directors there – you should film in Dubai … When you film here, you’re comfortable,” he said in 2020. He considers Dubai a fantastic filming location and has openly professed his love for the city, insisting that he will visit the country again and again to shoot more films. His latest Chinese action thriller movie Vanguard was partly shot in Dubai.
Will Smith
Will Smith can be seen cycling down in Dubai, with Downtown’s scenic skyline in the backdrop in the trailer of his latest docuseries Best Shape Of My Life. As part of this series about his weight loss journey, he even scaled the Burj Khalifa, climbing 160 floors in 61 minutes, standing atop the tower, and becoming one of the very few people in the world to do so. We also get to see him hitting the gym at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex and practising yoga on Burj Al Arab’s helipad! Will Smith has visited Dubai frequently, both for work and leisure.
Gwyneth Paltrow
In the #BeMyGuest series by Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, Gwyneth Paltrow starred in the videos in 2019 and can be seen exploring Dubai. She holds great respect for the people of the Emirate, who are strongly connected to their heritage and traditions while being open to the future. She describes her time in Dubai as exceeding her expectations and continues to surprise her despite so much more left to explore. She can be seen exploring souks, watersports and the city’s vibrant nightlife.
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson joined hands with Gwyneth Paltrow for the Dubai Tourism campaign short film A Story Takes Flight, along with Hollywood actress Zoe Saldana. The trio campaigned strongly on social media about their love for the city. Kate Hudson praised the warm Arabian hospitality she received all around Dubai, and she considers the friendly residents to be her favourite aspect of the city.
