Dune 3 returns to Abu Dhabi’s Liwa desert, with golden dunes recreating the legendary planet Arrakis.

The dunes of Liwa are about to get the Hollywood treatment once again. Denis Villeneuve is bringing his cameras back to Abu Dhabi for the third chapter of his epic Dune saga, and yes, that means Paul Atreides will once more walk across our golden horizons.

Legendary Entertainment confirmed that filming will begin later this year, with Abu Dhabi’s sweeping desert standing in for Arrakis, the mythical planet that has become as much a star of the franchise as Timothée Chalamet himself. Those cinematic rolling dunes and endless horizons aren’t just pretty, they’re central to the story’s power and scale.

Behind the scenes, Creative Media Authority Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Film Commission will provide logistical support, and Image Nation will serve as production partner. The blockbuster is also cashing in on the emirate’s lucrative film rebate scheme, which has already made Abu Dhabi a hotspot for global productions.

Over the past decade, the capital has hosted more than 180 shoots, from F1® The Movie, Mission: Impossible, Star Wars, Fast and Furious, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Netflix’s 6 Underground and War Machine. This is a reflection of the emirate’s diverse locations, talent pool, and filmmaking incentives. It also proof that Abu Dhabi isn’t just a stopover, it’s a stage for some of the biggest stories on screen.

So if you spot a sandworm slithering through Liwa later this year, don’t panic. It’s just Hollywood, back to play in our backyard.