Stringent safety measures and a resolve to stay productive during the pandemic has made the UAE an ever-popular destination for musicians to shoot their music videos.
In the past year, we’ve seen a spike in the number of works by international artists coming out of the country. But the UAE has long been a favourite for pop stars, rockers and rappers, who have turned to the sandy vistas and futuristic skylines to visually channel the energy of their tracks.
From the international teen pop group Now United to rapper Flo Rida, here are 13 musicians and bands that have shot videos in the UAE.
‘Bestseller’ (2021)
A prismatic, cyberpunk-themed journey through Dubai's Al Qudra desert, Bestseller is one of the latest music videos to come out of the UAE.
Featuring Ukrainian superstar Max Barskih and Russian singer Zivert, the video tells a futuristic love story and explores what it means to digitise our emotions, exchanging real human interaction and contact for likes and hits.
Since its release in March, the video has already amassed more than 16 million views on YouTube. “This was a complex project, involving a lot of people and a lot of technical issues,” Yasser Obeid, chief executive and founder of a.k.a. Media – the Dubai company behind the video – said. “Shooting a music video is very different than shooting any other type of film. One reason is that your imagination can have no limits – as long as it looks cool and cinematic.”
With exploding mirrors, laser beams and artists flying six metres above Al Qudra’s lilting dunes, the video delivers cool in spades.
‘Lean on Me’ by Now United (2021)
Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace is the backdrop of Now United's Lean on Me.
The video features 11 of the 16 members of the international pop group. It begins with an aerial shot showing the luminous hotel, the corniche and the capital’s illuminated skyline. As the song takes off with a scampering string section, the video centres on Now United members, who break out in a high-octane dance between the fountains.
Released in January, Lean on Me has amassed more than 30 million views on YouTube. "It was such an honour to shoot a music video at one of the most luxurious and beautiful locations in the Gulf," Emirati filmmaker Aiham AlSubaihi said in an interview with The National in January. "I don't think anyone [else] has had that opportunity.
“The video surpassed a million views in less that 24 hours and it’s been just climbing since then.”
‘Ya Habibi’ by Mohamed Ramadan (2020)
Mohamed Ramadan's music video for Ya Habibi starts with a special thanks to the UAE and serves as a glitzy representation of Dubai's entertainment and lifestyle scene.
The video, released in September, has amassed more than 90 million views. It shows the Egyptian star, along with Congolese singer Gims, going on night cruises on super yachts in the marina, rapping on helipads with the panoramic backdrop of the city’s skyline and hanging out in the lush opulence of the Palazzo Versace hotel.
Ramadan, a frequent visitor to the UAE and a golden visa holder, told The National that the country was an obvious choice for the location of the video. "With the whole situation with the coronavirus, we wanted to go to a place where we could shoot a video safely and with professionalism, and really the UAE is the best place for that," he said.
“From the permits by the Dubai Film and TV Commission to the international crew, it was a great and professional experience. It’s a testament to a country that is smart and is always looking ahead. I want to do more work here.”
'Jopping' by Super M (2019)
The so-called Avengers of K-Pop shot a video in the UAE in the summer of 2019. Since Jopping was Super M's first official visual release, the group made a flamboyant statement with a glitzy film captured in Dubai.
The video featured the seven-piece Korean band riding motorbikes around Happiness Street in Business Bay and Al Khail Road, cruising down Meydan Bridge, and performing on a stretch of highway in the desert.
One of the members, Taemin, makes use of the latter landscape by dancing and rapping his verse with the Dubai skyline in the background.
'New Look' by Rita Ora (2019)
To match the electronic pulse of her single New Look, Ora and crew came to Dubai and captured the emirate at its most futuristic.
She and her dancers performed some slick choreography at the Meydan Bridge and in Al Seef, while there were also shots showing her cruising down Bur Dubai.
This is in addition to grand shots of Sheikh Zayed Road and a majestic Burj Khalifa. Speaking to The National a few months after the video was released in 2019, Ora complimented Dubai as the ideal setting.
“I love the people, the scene and the location was perfect,” she said. “I just loved the girls in the jumpsuits with the headscarfs. I thought that was really cool and I’ve never seen that before, so that was really special.”
'Wala Kilma' by Freek (2019)
Freek's music video shows that the UAE has more to offer artists than just skyscrapers and the desert. With arid vistas and scenes shot in a quirky tourist hot spot that featured an abandoned Soviet-era aircraft, the video also proved to be a great showcase of Umm Al Quwain.
The music video is the second work on this list by Emirati filmmaker AlSubaihi and has amassed more than a million views since it was released in March 2019.
But Freek – born Mustafa Ismail – said both the song and the video first resonated in the UK before coming to the Middle East's attention.
“The video didn’t do so well when we first put it up,” Ismail said. “But then Link Up TV [an influential hip-hop platform in the UK] put it on their social media and people began sharing it like crazy.”
'One Night in Dubai' by Arash, featuring Helena (2019)
More like one night in the Burj Al Arab. For a bilingual track (Farsi and English) that talks about having an amazing time in the city, it feels weird that we rarely see the star attraction in the video.
Instead, what we get is Swedish-Iranian singer Arash and Swedish pop singer Helena just wandering around the hotel's luxe interiors, and hanging out on the helipad.
'Bodak Yellow' by Cardi B (2017)
This is one of the most-watched music videos that was shot in the UAE, as the accompanying visuals to Cardi B's classic hip-hop single reached more than 800 million views on YouTube.
From the opening shot of a misty Dubai skyline, the city plays a central role throughout the video. Cardi B uses the emirate's diverse landscape as metaphor for her various personalities.
Scenes shot in the desert capture her in an elegant light, with classy, traditional attire, while the hectic shots in urban areas, featuring sports cars, a sparkling white villa and even a tiger, show she is very comfortable living the high life.
'Thunder' by Imagine Dragons (2017)
It is good to see the rockers also getting into the UAE's scenic possibilities. To match the drama of their track Thunder, the American rock band Imagine Dragons shot a black-and-white music video that heavily showcased Dubai Design District.
However, some of the best shots in the video are the aerial images of Sheikh Zayed Road and Old Dubai. The emirate never looked so breathtaking from up high.
'Shine Your Light' by Jay Wud (2017)
For such a powerful track, Jay Wud knew he needed an equally commanding site to shoot the video at, so he and his band went up to the helipad in Al Thuraya Tower on the Sharjah border to rock out.
With a global audience in mind, Wud wanted the black-and-white video to be slick and gritty enough to capture an international rock audience. "Because this will be played everywhere, we wanted to show that we are from Dubai," Wud told The National.
“That’s why we picked the helipad. You can see the Burj Khalifa and there is a whole urban vibe to it.”
'Cookin' by Fat Joe (2016)
If you were in the Dubai desert on a sweltering August afternoon in 2016 and saw a bunch of rappers wearing tracksuits, and walking beside a tiger, you would be forgiven for thinking it was a mirage. The surreal scene, however, was part of Fat Joe's music video for his single Cookin'.
There are also plenty of shots of the UAE national flag, majestic sand dunes and Fat Joe cruising in a yellow Lamborghini down Sheikh Zayed Road.
Despite all the fun, however, the rapper admits sweating buckets during that shoot. "It was like sitting inside a brick oven," he told The National.
“People thought I was crazy when I said 'we will shoot a video in Dubai, in the desert and in the summer' – they told me ‘yeah, good luck’.”
'So Much' by Wiz Khalifa (2016)
This is not so much a video but more of a lavish account of Wiz Khalifa's Dubai vacation. Over the buoyant beats, he ticks off the tourist bucket list boxes: quad biking in the desert, chilling poolside, hitting the nightclubs and feeding the odd tiger and giraffe.
'Zillionaire' by Flo Rida (2016)
There was a period three years ago where Flo Rida was in the UAE so much you would have thought he had an Emirates ID card.
At least he has made good use of his time, with this video showcasing the best of Dubai luxury and glamour.
Promising to take his date on the best holiday ever, they race supercars, chill at the Burj Al Arab hotel, as well as hang out on a yacht and go shopping.
All that stuff requires energy, of course, hence Flo Rida’s decision to work out in the gym beforehand in his Versace shirt.
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Read more:
Gulf sitcoms ‘Mamnou’ Al Tajawol' and ‘Shaabiat Al Cartoon’ tackle the pandemic with humour
The 11 best Arab indie musicians you should be listening to right now
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
Uefa Champions League last 16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur
Basel v Manchester City
Sevilla v Manchester United
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
