The original The Fast and the Furious is racing back to cinemas for its 25th anniversary, with a limited theatrical re-release beginning August 21 in the US and August 28 in select international markets. But if you’re in much of the Arab world, don’t expect to catch it on the big screen. So, naturally, we’re making our own throwback.
Instead of going all the way back to 2001, we’re revisiting one of the franchise’s most memorable Middle Eastern pit stops: Furious 7 and its very real love affair with Abu Dhabi.
The Crew Goes Full Fast & Furious in the Liwa Desert
Before Abu Dhabi’s skyline takes over the frame, the Furious 7 crew makes a seriously dramatic entrance through the Liwa Desert. A convoy of supercars, endless golden dunes and that unmistakable Fast & Furious energy — because of course they couldn’t just drive into the city normally.
The Crew Takes in Abu Dhabi’s Waterfront
Back in April 2014, the Furious 7 crew spent around two weeks filming across Abu Dhabi, turning some of the capital’s most recognizable spots into full-blown action-movie territory. The production hit locations including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, Yas Marina Circuit, Al Ain and the Liwa Desert.
And yes, seeing Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson and the rest of the crew casually wandering around places you actually recognize was every bit as surreal as it sounds.
In this scene, Dom Toretto and the crew take in the city’s waterfront, with the unmistakable Etihad Towers skyline right behind them — a pretty iconic view to casually have in the background.
The Furious 7 Gang Pulls Up to Emirates Palace
One of the film’s most glamorous stops was the Emirates Palace, where the cast was filmed walking down the hotel’s grand staircase. The location also doubled as part of the film’s Abu Dhabi storyline, giving the franchise exactly what it wanted: ridiculously expensive cars and ridiculously expensive buildings.
Tyrese Embraces the Abu Dhabi Dress Code in A Promotional Visit
During a promotional visit for the film’s home entertainment release in 2015, Tyrese Gibson leaned into the local experience, posing in a kandura alongside locals on the grand staircase of the Emirates Palace.
Dom and Brian Go Flying Through Etihad Towers
Of course, no Furious 7 Abu Dhabi throwback is complete without the Lykan HyperSport.
Dom and Brian find themselves racing through the Etihad Towers before launching the Lykan out of one skyscraper and into another. Then they do it again, because apparently once was not enough.
The scene became one of the franchise’s most absurdly iconic moments — but, unsurprisingly, they weren’t actually driving a supercar between skyscrapers. Abu Dhabi provided the real-world towers and exterior shots, while large sections of the buildings were recreated on a soundstage in Atlanta for the stunt. The production even temporarily removed windows from the actual towers for filming.
And the car itself was no ordinary prop. The Lykan HyperSport was a real, ultra-limited supercar, with only seven produced, while several replicas were created for the action sequences.
Tej & Roman Unwind at Emirates Palace
Not every Fast & Furious moment had to involve speeding cars and near-death stunts. This Furious 7 still gives us a rare breather, with Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson kicking back at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace. Honestly, if you’re going to take a break from saving the world, this isn’t a bad place to do it.
Dom & Letty Take Us Inside an Etihad Towers Penthouse
Abu Dhabi gets a seriously glamorous moment in Furious 7 as Dom and Letty arrive at an exclusive party inside the towering Etihad Towers. Dressed to impress, the pair move through the lavish high-rise setting as they take on their latest mission, giving us a very different — and very Abu Dhabi — side of the franchise.
Behind the Scenes in Abu Dhabi
What looked like another effortlessly chaotic Furious 7 moment on screen took plenty of work behind the scenes. From filming around Abu Dhabi’s landmarks to getting those larger-than-life shots just right, this glimpse behind the scenes shows what went into bringing Furious 7 to the UAE — and yes, it’s just as fun watching the making of it.
Abu Dhabi Was Basically Another Character
Beyond the skyscrapers and luxury hotels, the film also took the crew into the Liwa Desert and around Al Ain, giving Furious 7 a very different visual backdrop from the franchise’s usual streets and highways. The result was Abu Dhabi at peak blockbuster: golden dunes, futuristic towers, supercars and explosions all in one trip.
So while we may not be getting the nostalgia trip of watching the original Fast & Furious back in cinemas, Abu Dhabi already gave the franchise one of its most unforgettable chapters. Honestly, that feels like a pretty good throwback of its own.
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