Latest
issue
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
News   Features   Products   Company profilesProfiles   Press releasesProfiles   Magazine   Handbook   Advertise    Subscribe  
NEWS
Star Wars set in Abu Dhabi to become top tourist destination
POSTED 18 Dec 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
The Jakku scenes were shot in the Liwa desert, 200km south of Abu Dhabi
The Jakku scenes were shot in the Liwa desert, 200km south of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is planning to piggyback off the success of the recently-released Star Wars movie, using the setting for the remote planet of Jakku from Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a prime tourist destination.

In the new movie, which was released to rave reviews, the desert planet plays a pivotal role in the franchise’s new trilogy.

UAE developer Aldar Properties PJSC and media company twofour54 collaborated with the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority to create a Star Wars-themed installation for the film’s Middle East premiere. The experience included a look at the film’s creatures, props and set pieces from Jakku, including the marketplace; models of the Jakku speeder truck and landspeeder; and an AT-AT foot.

Beyond the premiere, Abu Dhabi authorities are planning to take advantage of the part it played in bringing the film to life, with plans to use the remains of the desert sets as tourist attractions, incorporating props from the film to create a real-life Star Wars experience.

Twofour54 have confirmed that sets in the Liwa desert, 200km (124m) south of Abu Dhabi, which was the setting of Jakku, will become a tourist attraction, but further details are being kept a secret. Twofour54 are also working on an installation on the facade of Abu Dhabi's Aldar HQ circular skyscraper, transforming the building to resemble the Starkiller Base seen in the new movie.

Twofour54 are also working on an installation on the facade of Abu Dhabi's Aldar HQ circular skyscraper
Abu Dhabi authorities are planning to take advantage of the part it played in bringing the film to life
RELATED STORIES
  Star Wars attractions debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios


Hollywood Studios at Disney World Florida has debuted its new Star Wars attraction – the largest land expansion in company history – opening just ahead of the movie premiere for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which hits cinemas on 18 December.
  Discovery Times Square feeling the force with new Star Wars exhibition


Discovery Times Square has teamed with the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (LMoNA) and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) to bring a temporary Star Wars exhibition to New York.
  C3PO actor Anthony Daniels to star at TEA's SATE conference


Anthony Daniels, the only person to appear in all seven Star Wars films where he portrayed protocol droid C3PO, is set to star at this year’s annual Storytelling Architecture Technology Experience (SATE) Conference kicks off in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania next week.
  Disney reveals plans for major Star Wars, Toy Story and Marvel-themed lands at D23 Expo


It’s been a big weekend for Disney, after the company announced details for its first Marvel attraction, a Toy Story-themed expansion at Hollywood Studios and the long- rumoured plans for a Star Wars land at two of its US theme parks.
MORE NEWS
KX Chelsea invests £15 million to upgrade its wellness offering
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth offers ocean-themed yoga for Global Wellness Day
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Hoshino Resorts combats summer heat with medically-supervised cool bathing programme for KAI onsen
Hoshino Resorts has developed a “Cool-down onsen soak” programme at properties with Japanese onsen facilities – those within the company’s KAI brand.
+ More news   

FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Longevity in spas: a strategic choice, not a default setting
Longevity has become one of the most debated concepts in contemporary wellness. [more...]

Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. - bespoke means moving beyond the catalogue to delivering contextual design responses
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness environments. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Balanced Body

Balanced Body is the global leader in Pilates equipment and education. Founded nearly 50 years ago, [more...]
Global Project & Spa Advisory

The company was launched in 2012 by CEO Patrick Saussay and Christopher Ryan. [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
+ More diary  
 
ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
 
SPA BUSINESS
SPA OPPORTUNITIES
SPA BUSINESS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Star Wars set in Abu Dhabi to become top tourist destination
POSTED 18 Dec 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
The Jakku scenes were shot in the Liwa desert, 200km south of Abu Dhabi
The Jakku scenes were shot in the Liwa desert, 200km south of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is planning to piggyback off the success of the recently-released Star Wars movie, using the setting for the remote planet of Jakku from Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a prime tourist destination.

In the new movie, which was released to rave reviews, the desert planet plays a pivotal role in the franchise’s new trilogy.

UAE developer Aldar Properties PJSC and media company twofour54 collaborated with the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority to create a Star Wars-themed installation for the film’s Middle East premiere. The experience included a look at the film’s creatures, props and set pieces from Jakku, including the marketplace; models of the Jakku speeder truck and landspeeder; and an AT-AT foot.

Beyond the premiere, Abu Dhabi authorities are planning to take advantage of the part it played in bringing the film to life, with plans to use the remains of the desert sets as tourist attractions, incorporating props from the film to create a real-life Star Wars experience.

Twofour54 have confirmed that sets in the Liwa desert, 200km (124m) south of Abu Dhabi, which was the setting of Jakku, will become a tourist attraction, but further details are being kept a secret. Twofour54 are also working on an installation on the facade of Abu Dhabi's Aldar HQ circular skyscraper, transforming the building to resemble the Starkiller Base seen in the new movie.

Twofour54 are also working on an installation on the facade of Abu Dhabi's Aldar HQ circular skyscraper
Abu Dhabi authorities are planning to take advantage of the part it played in bringing the film to life
RELATED STORIES
Star Wars attractions debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios


Hollywood Studios at Disney World Florida has debuted its new Star Wars attraction – the largest land expansion in company history – opening just ahead of the movie premiere for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which hits cinemas on 18 December.
Discovery Times Square feeling the force with new Star Wars exhibition


Discovery Times Square has teamed with the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (LMoNA) and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) to bring a temporary Star Wars exhibition to New York.
C3PO actor Anthony Daniels to star at TEA's SATE conference


Anthony Daniels, the only person to appear in all seven Star Wars films where he portrayed protocol droid C3PO, is set to star at this year’s annual Storytelling Architecture Technology Experience (SATE) Conference kicks off in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania next week.
Disney reveals plans for major Star Wars, Toy Story and Marvel-themed lands at D23 Expo


It’s been a big weekend for Disney, after the company announced details for its first Marvel attraction, a Toy Story-themed expansion at Hollywood Studios and the long- rumoured plans for a Star Wars land at two of its US theme parks.
MORE NEWS
KX Chelsea invests £15 million to upgrade its wellness offering
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth offers ocean-themed yoga for Global Wellness Day
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Hoshino Resorts combats summer heat with medically-supervised cool bathing programme for KAI onsen
Hoshino Resorts has developed a “Cool-down onsen soak” programme at properties with Japanese onsen facilities – those within the company’s KAI brand.
Rainforest immersion and mindfulness are on offer at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, for Global Wellness Day
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day (GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation experiences.
Longevitix launches AI-powered platform to deliver longevity medicine at scale
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI- powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity- focused care at scale.
+ More news   
 
FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Longevity in spas: a strategic choice, not a default setting
Longevity has become one of the most debated concepts in contemporary wellness. [more...]

Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. - bespoke means moving beyond the catalogue to delivering contextual design responses
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness environments. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Balanced Body

Balanced Body is the global leader in Pilates equipment and education. Founded nearly 50 years ago, [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS