Hearing mention of Abu Dhabi in international television shows and films is not only a thrill for those of us who live here, but it also helps our tourism industry. That’s why the authorities are encouraging filmmakers to come here and showcase the emirate’s attractions.
But in a new episode of the American spy drama Homeland, a scene featuring CIA bureau chief Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) being driven in a taxi through the streets of Abu Dhabi was actually shot in Morocco – which is different from Abu Dhabi but seems to fit the Hollywood idea of what an Arab city ought to look like.
While we want Abu Dhabi to be name-checked in popular shows, wouldn't it be better if the film crews actually came here to shoot these scenes? As the makers of Furious 7 and The Bold and the Beautiful, among many others, have found, Abu Dhabi has much more to offer the film industry than just a name.
