Will Smith coming to Dubai

Global movie star Will Smith is to attend the Middle East premiere of National Geographic’s original docuseries Pole to Pole with Will Smith in Dubai next week, with the red-carpet event taking place at SEE Institute in Sustainable City.

The premiere will be held on January 9, 2026, at the region’s first net-zero emissions building, offering a Hollywood-style red carpet, a private screening of an episode and a live Q&A with Smith alongside the explorers and scientists involved in the series.

Five years in the making, Pole to Pole with Will Smith is a seven-part cinematic documentary that follows Smith across all seven continents on a 100-day expedition. The series charts his journey from Antarctica’s ice fields to the Amazon rainforest, the Himalayas, African deserts, Pacific islands and the Arctic, as he undertakes extreme challenges including skiing to the South Pole and diving beneath the ice at the North Pole.

The project blends environmental storytelling, science and human experience, with Smith guided by scientists, explorers and local communities whose knowledge and resilience play a central role in the narrative. The series also explores themes of sustainability, climate resilience and humanity’s relationship with the planet.

“This journey was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” Smith said, describing the expedition as both a physical and personal test that offered hope and perspective about the future of Earth.

The choice of venue reflects the series’ focus on environmental responsibility. The Sustainable City is widely recognised as a global model for sustainable urban living, integrating renewable energy, biodiversity protection and circular economy practices.

Pole to Pole with Will Smith premieres on National Geographic on January 13, followed by National Geographic Abu Dhabi on January 14, and will stream exclusively on Disney+ from January 14.