UAE to star as filming location for new outdoor reality show

The UAE has been chosen as the filming location for a new outdoor reality competition series, Special Forces Trilogy, which will showcase the emirates’ diverse natural landscapes through a series of endurance-based challenges.

Filming is expected to take place across Dubai and Hatta, highlighting a mix of desert, mountain and rugged outdoor locations designed to test participants’ resilience, fitness and teamwork.

The 10-episode series will be co-produced by UAE-based studio Ti22 Films and Ant Media & Productions, with British media personality Ant Middleton, best known for the series SAS: Who Dares Wins, leading the project. 

Casting for the series was open to UAE residents, with shortlisted participants taking part in selection rounds at Danube Sports World on 25 November, followed by further fitness and wellness assessments at The Brain & Performance Centre by Aviv Clinics on 28 November.

The casting phase coincides with the 2025 Dubai Fitness Challenge, highlighting the production’s alignment with Dubai’s wider goals to promote active living.

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Middleton said: “I’m thrilled to be bringing my format to the region for the very first time. It’s a competitive journey of self-discovery that pushes people to their limits physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“The landscapes of Dubai and Hatta provide the perfect backdrop for this challenge, and I am excited to be working with Ti22 Films and OSN to deliver something truly unique.”

Set to debut in 2026, Special Forces Trilogy will air on OSNtv and stream on OSN+.

The UAE has long served as a destination for international filming projects, with its desert landscapes and urban infrastructure featured in high-profile productions, including recent films such as F1 and Dune. Such projects also contribute to local tourism, supporting a growing trend of ‘set-jetting,’ where visitors are increasingly traveling to locations featured in popular films and television series.

For more information, visit sftcasting.com