50 stars who have visited the UAE – in pictures

From Will Smith and Anil Kapoor to Nancy Ajram and Cristiano Ronaldo, celebrities have long flocked to the emirates

Paris Hilton was in Dubai to DJ at a club launch, along with her sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild. Courtesy Arian Marcos / Katch PR

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, and Rishi Kapoor held the press conference for their film, 'Patiala House,' in Dubai. Randi Sokoloff for The National

Will Smith and his actress wife, Jada Pinkett Smith have returned again and again to the UAE. Instagram @willsmithsbucketlist

Kim Kardashian has been a frequent visitor to the UAE, and on one trip paid a visit to the Rashid Centre for People of Determination. Courtesy Rashid Center for People of Determination

Moroccan producer and singer RedOne, was spotted dining at Cipriani Dubai. Instagram @redone

Pakistani singing star Atif Aslam performed at Dubai's Global Village. Courtesy Global Village

US cyclist Lance Armstrong marvelled at the 180 kilometre cycling track he got all to himself while enjoying the sunrise in Dubai. Instagram @lancearmstrong

'Fast and Furious' star, Tyrese Gibson stayed in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National

Indian actor and producer, Zayed Khan, flew in for the opening of Clé Dubai. Courtesy Arian Marcos / Katch PR

American hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg wore a kandura onstage for a concert at Yas Island. Andrew Henderson / The National

Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid played in the Dubai Celebrity Golf Tournament. Victor Besa / The National

The audience at Al Badia Golf Course in Dubai were treated to a performance by the late, great English singer, Joe Cocker. Jeff Topping / The National

Reality show matriarch, Kris Jenner shared her considerable business acumen at the Legacy Business School at the Ginza Lounge in Dubai Design District. Victor Besa / The National

Lebanese Singer Nancy Ajram attended the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge at the Palm Desert Resort and Spa. Getty Images

The late Indian actor, Om Puri and actress and singer Ila Arun visited Abu Dhabi. Galen Clarke / The National

Oscar-winning Hollywood actress Julianne Moore spoke at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. Delores Johnson / The National

A big UAE fan, Tom Cruise met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. AFP

Bollywood actress and influencer, Nargis Fakhri, was in the UAE for the XYoga Dubai Festival, along with beauty influencer, Maliha J Khan. Instagram / Nargis Fakhri

In the UAE for hot weather training at Nad Al Sheba, England footballer Dele Alli visited the Belhasa farm in Dubai. Instagram / Dele Alli

Retired Portuguese footballer Luis Figo was in the UAE to talk yoga, health and fitness at the XYoga Dubai Festival. He also attended the AFC Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi. Instagram / Luis Figo

'Dulha Mil Gaya' star Fardeen Khan was in Dubai for a club opening. Courtesy Arian Marcos / Katch PR

Bollywood star Ali Fazal was spotted at the Taj Dubai hotel. Twitter / Ali Fazal

Tamil actress Athulya Ravi enjoyed a visit to Dubai Miracle Garden. Twitter / Athulya Ravi

Former 'Coronation Street' actress, Helen Flanagan holidayed in Dubai. Instagram / Helen Flanagan

Former Liverpool and England footballer Steven Gerrard and his wife, Alex Curran, hit the beach in Dubai. Instagram / Steven Gerrard

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, met with Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. Instagram / Sheikh Hamdan

British boxer Anthony Joshua enjoyed breakfast at Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf. Instagram / Anthony Joshua

'Man! I Feel Like a Woman!' singer Shania Twain stayed at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Instagram / Shania Twain

Manchester United players, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Andreas Pereira met with Nusret Gokce, AKA Salt Bae at his restaurant Nusr-Et Dubai. Instagram / Nusr-Et

Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey attended a production of 'Dhow Under the Sun' in Sharjah. Courtesy Wam

French Juventus player, Blaise Matuidi with Coach Meddy at the Fairmont The Palm Dubai. Twitter / Blaise Matuidi

German footballer Mario Gotze enjoyed some winter sun in Dubai. Twitter / Mario Gotze

Bollywood star Anil Kapoor visited Dubai for the Malabar Gold and Diamonds party. Twitter / Anil Kapoor

US rapper 50 Cent performed at Base Dubai. Instagram / 50 Cent

'Jaws' actor Richard Dreyfuss and DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma attended the Opening Night Gala of 'Room' at the 12th annual Dubai International Film Festival at the Madinat Jumeriah. Reem Mohammed / The National

Lebanese singer Elissa enjoyed dinner at La Cantine du Faubourg with friends. Twitter / Elissa

US model Ashley Graham was in Dubai to launch a capsule clothing collection with Italian brand Marina Rinaldi. Instagram / Ashley Graham

Pierce Brosnan was in the UAE to shoot 'The Misfits' in the Abu Dhabi desert. Instagram / Pierce Brosnan

British boyband McFly's Tom Fletcher and his blogger and author wife, Giovanna Fletcher, stayed at Atlantis, The Palm with their three sons, Buzz, Buddy and Maxwell. Instagram / Giovanna Fletcher

American actress Jamie Chung visited Louvre Abu Dhabi while in the capital to film 'The Misfits'. Instagram / Jamie Chung

'Quantum of Solace' actress Olga Kurylenko visited Dubai when she came to the UAE. Courtesy GCA

British singer and actress, Rita Ora, performed at the Wake Up Call Festival at W Dubai – The Palm, and headed to Cipriani for dinner afterwards. Instagram @ritaora

'Wolverine' star, Hugh Jackman and his actress, wife Deborra Lee-Furness, visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Instagram / thehughjackman

R&B star Ne-Yo spent a New Year's Eve in the UAE. Ne-Yo / Instagram

Mahmoud Al Turki performed at Dubai's Global Village. Courtesy Global Village

Khloe Kardashian has been a frequent visitor to the UAE both by herself and with her famous siblings. Victor Besa / The National

Indian former cricketer, Yuvraj Singh, attended the opening of Clé Dubai. Courtesy Arian Marcos / Katch PR

American R&B star Usher tried out the zipline at Jabal Jais, Ras Al Khaimah along with Emirati entrepreneur Dr Sara Al Madani, British entrepreneur and philanthropist Joe Fournier, and Dubai-based blogger Melina Malliaroudakis. Instagram @sara_almadani_

Hong Kong film legend Jackie Chan met with Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed during his visit to the emirates. Instagram

British fitness expert Joe Wicks was in the UAE for the Dubai Fitness Challenge. Instagram / The Body Coach

Whether they're ziplining down Jabal Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, meeting with royalty or hanging out at some of the best restaurants the UAE has to offer, celebrities have been enjoying the amazing weather and famous hospitality of the Emirates for years.

Jetting into the UAE from around the Middle East, Hollywood, Bollywood and beyond, whether filming hit movies, performing on stage or just hanging out, some of the world's most famous faces have found their home from home on our sunny shores.

As the UAE celebrates it's 49th National Day, we take a look back at the big name celebrities from the worlds of film, sport, music and more, who have visited the emirates.

Scroll through the gallery for 50 A-list stars who have visited the UAE.