Sex in the City sequel set in Abu Dhabi

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays Carrie Bradshaw in the "Sex in the City" franchise, attended Bravo Media's 2010 upfront party in New York this month. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

The weirdness of this is just a little bit overwhelming. "

the sequel to "Sex in the City," will feature scenes in Abu Dhabi...that are filmed in Morocco. The reason the crew couldn't get into the UAE to film are probably by now familiar. As

reported in August, the films' producers' request to film portions in Dubai Studio City were declined "by taking into consideration the multicultural fabric of the society and its perceptions", according to a statement by Location Approval Services. The original film did not appear on UAE movie screens either, though it did show on Showtime in the region.

Considering how much Abu Dhabi has invested in recent years to build a film industry here -- bringing over New York Film Academy, launching the Middle East International Film Festival and The Circle film financing conference, and even launching the region's biggest film fund, Imagenation Abu Dhabi -- the fact that the emirate didn't actually get a dirham for its role in this movie is a bit of a slap in the face. But it might have a long-term tourism dividend. After all, as Manolo Blahnik can attest, the Sex ladies seem to have a bit of the Midas touch