Was Dune filmed in Wadi Rum? The Dune Movie & Wadi Rum

Dune was a huge success at the box office and is rumored to get another sequel by 2026. In the meantime, let’s find out where the movie was filmed. 

While Dune was shot on several movie sets such as Budapest and Abu Dhabi, to get the visuals of the desert environment just right, the crew could not skip the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wadi Rum. 

The unique landscape of Wadi Rum, Jordan, appears more than a couple of times in the movie. With its unique sandstone rock formations and characteristic red sand dunes it’s hard to miss. Let’s find out, just how deeply Wadi Rum and the Dune franchise are intertwined. 

1. Discover All Dune Filming Locations in Wadi Rum.
2. Was Dune filmed in Wadi Rum? 
3. The Desert Planet Arakis and the Wadi Rum in Jordan 
4. Known Filming Locations of Dune in Wadi Rum
5. Other Movies Filmed in Wadi Rum 
6. How to Revisit Dune Filming Locations in Wadi Rum
7. Dune Filming Locations in Wadi Rum – Our Recommendations 
8. The Bottom Line 
9. FAQs
   1. Was Dune filmed in Wadi Rum?
   2. What movie is being filmed in Wadi Rum?
   3. What Hollywood movie was filmed in Wadi Rum?
   4. Was Dune Part 2 shot in Jordan?

Was Dune filmed in Wadi Rum? 

Set in a distant future, the Warner Bros blockbuster Dune follows young Paul Atreides, heir to House Atreides, as his family takes control of the desert planet Arrakis. As rival House Harkonnen, among them Lady Jessica, plots their downfall, Paul grapples with his destiny, prophetic visions, and the challenges of leadership. 

Key scenes filmed in Wadi Rum showcase the breathtaking desert landscape, representing the vast sand dunes of Arrakis. 

In the sequel Dune 2, Paul, now allied with the Fremen, seeks to unite the desert tribes against the oppressive Harkonnen regime. 

As he embraces his role as a leader and potential messiah, he faces internal and external conflicts that challenge his vision for the future of Arrakis. Again, parts of Frank Herbert’s fantasy saga were filmed on-site in the Wadi Rum desert. 

The Desert Planet Arakis and the Wadi Rum in Jordan 

The towering rock formations and sweeping dunes of Wadi Rum enhance the film’s epic atmosphere. The harsh beauty of Wadi Rum looks outerworldy even to the everyday visitor. Combined with Dune’s outstanding story-telling and costumes, it makes the perfect Arakis backdrop. 

In several movie scenes, viewers can easily discern the characteristic sandstone rock formations of Wadi Rum, Jordan, in the background. 

Filming for the Dune franchise took place between 2019 & 2023 for each of the two parts released to cinemas already. A third Dune movie has been proposed with 2026 as a release date. 

Should the plans for a third movie materialise, it is almost certain that director Denis Villeneuve will again take advantage of Wadi Rum’s beautiful landscape. 

Known Filming Locations of Dune in Wadi Rum

The first Dune movie has several scenes taking place in what is in reality the Wadi Rum desert. The unique desert landscape can be seen in its original shape in several panoramic shots. 

Additionally, there is several scenes where Wadi Rum appears heavily altered by CGI, but it is still discernible as the Wadi Rum desert. 

While the Dune pays less attention on highlighting the sights of Wadi Rum and more attention of integrating it into its whole visual, some Wadi Rum landmarks still stick out. 

When you re-watch the Dune movie, watch for the Seven Pillars of Wisdom and Jebel Rum specifically are they appear in several shots. 

Click through this gallery to see how the Wadi Rum desert was integrated into Dune: 

Other Movies Filmed in Wadi Rum 

Besides the first two editions of Dune, a plethora of other movie sets have found themselves in the Wadi Rum Desert in the last decades. Indeed, Wadi Rum has become a prime location for shooting desert scenes and has featured in more than a handful of Hollywood blockbusters. 

These are some more movies filmed in Wadi Rum: 

• Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – Oscar-winning drama based on the life of the British lieutenant T.E. Lawrence of Arabia who played a pivotal role in the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule. Find out more in our article on Lawrence of Arabia. 
• The Martian (2015) – Space drama starring Matt Damon. Wadi Rum served as the basis of the Martian landscape shown in the movie. 
• Star Wars Story: Rogue One & The Rise of Skywalker (2016 & 2019) – Two parts of the Star Wars Story have drawn inspiration from the Wadi Rum desert.
• John Wick Chapter 4 (2023) – The scene of the fourth John Wick movie of Wick meeting the Elder of the High Table was filmed in Wadi Rum. 
• Theeb (2015) – Not a blockbuster but still influential, the story of a Bedouin boy during World War I was filmed in many locations all over Jordan. 
• Red Planet (2000) – A science-fiction blockbuster featuring Val Kilmer on a space mission to Mars. 
• find more movies filmed in Wadi Rum in our article on Wadi Rum as a Filming Location.

How to Revisit Dune Filming Locations in Wadi Rum

Are you looking into rediscovering some of the Dune filming locations in Jordan’s Wadi Rum? 

These are our recommendations for your Dune trip to Wadi Run, Jordan: 

1. Book your tour in advance: Jeep Tours are the best way to get to know the Wadi Rum desert. However, onsite prices can be higher than online. Therefore, be sure to book accommodation as well as tours online as package to save yourself money and effort. 
2. Customise your tour: For the best Dune experience, let your tour operator know that you want to pass by the Seven Pillars of Wisdom and Jebel Rum. They will be happy to adjust the tour to your liking and you will be able to get unclose to the actual filming locations. 
3. Learn more about Wadi Rum: Wadi Rum serves as the base for the fictional planet of Arakis and its very own tribes. But don’t forget that Wadi Rum is a real place with its very own history and culture. Take your chance to learn about Wadi Rum’s history and the unique ways of Bedouin culture. 
4. How to Get to Wadi Rum: After arriving to Jordan by plane, opt for a bus, taxi or rental car, to get to Wadi Rum Village. Head to Wadi Rum Rest House to meet your tour hosts and start exploring the otherworldly landscape of Wadi Rum. 
5. Respect the Environment: Wadi Rum ist not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also a protected area. Most importantly, this means you will be asked to pay an entrance fee at the Wadi Rum Visitor Center or present your Jordan Pass. 

Dune Filming Locations in Wadi Rum – Our Recommendations 

While the crew never disclosed where the filming of the Dune movie took place exactly, there is several clues in the movie pointing to where the Dune movie was filmed. 

Include the following sites in your Wadi Rum tour to retrace some of the filming locations of the Dune movie:

• Seven Pillars of Wisdom: The Seven Pillars of Wisdom are seven differently-sized sandstone peaks in the Wadi Rum desert. They appear in Dune Part 1 several times. When visiting Wadi Rum, this is one of the first sights you will see. 
• Jebel Rum: Jebel Rum is one of the most characteristic mountains of the Wadi Rum desert and can be seen in Dune Part 1 several times. Also, it is a prime rock climbing location, if you are up for a challenge. 
• Red Sand Dunes: As a stark contrast to the towering rock formations, the red sand dunes offer stunning views of the ‘Valley of the Moon’. On the dunes, you can also do sand boarding, which is so much fun. 
• Al-Khazali Canyon: A narrow canyon in Wadi Rum, showcasing traces of hundreds of years of settlement in the Wadi Rum desert. After hours of intense sun, a stroll along the shady path of Al-Khazali Canyon will be more than welcome. 

The Bottom Line 

The Wadi Rum desert is no stranger to blockbuster movie productions. First captured on the big screen by ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, the ‘Valley of the Moon’ has since featured in countless Hollywood productions such as Star Wars, John Wick, The Martian and – above all – Dune Part 1 and Dune Part 2. 

As a lover of the Dune franchise, you simply can’t miss out on a visit to Wadi Rum, to see the filming locations of the Dune movies with your own eyes. 

Make use of our recommendations to find all the Dune filming locations in Wadi Rum and stay overnight to get to know the fascinating culture of the Bedouin people in Wadi Rum. What are you waiting for? 

FAQs

Was Dune filmed in Wadi Rum?

Yes, the movie Dune was partly filmed in the Wadi Rum desert. In fact, many scenes of the Dune movie include shots of Wadi Rum, including some of its most famous sites. Dune 2 was also filmed in Wadi Rum, Jordan. 

What movie is being filmed in Wadi Rum?

Dune is one of the latest of many movies filmed in Wadi Rum. It will certainly not be the last. With rumours of a third Dune movie being scheduled for 2026, we can expect Dune’s movie magic to return to Wadi Rum soon. 

What Hollywood movie was filmed in Wadi Rum?

Besides Dune, more than a dozen other notable movies have been filmed in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Some of the most popular examples are: Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Star Wars: Rogue One, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, John Wick and Theeb. 

Was Dune Part 2 shot in Jordan?

For the filming of the first Dune sequel director Denis Villeneuve and production designer Patrice Vermette returned to Southern Jordan. Since the filming of the first movie in Wadi Rum, the so-called Mars on Earth has become the ideal backdrop for scenes shot on the desert planet Arakis.