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According to Roger Friedman, of Showbiz411, Will Smith is hiding out in one of his favorite places on earth: Dubai.
Sources tell Friedman that days after Smith slapped Oscar presenter Chris Rock, he was flown to Dubai by his BFF, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aka "Fazza."
If you follow Smith on social media, you know that he has been to the Middle East kingdom frequently over the years.
@vvip Ever feel on top of the world? ? @Will Smith #vvip #dubai #burjkhalifa #willsmith ? Love Nwantiti(Remix) - PSN ??
Smith is very good friends with Fazza, and godfather to his twins.
When the babies were born, Smith sent custom made gifts to them. Fazza posted a picture of Will with the gifts to his @Faz3 Instagram account that has over 14 million followers
In 2021, Smith shot his documentary, "The Best Shape of My Life," in Fazza's private gym in Dubai. Smith vowed to lose 20 pounds in 20 weeks. But he was also there to heal himself mentally (obviously, that didn't happen).
Smith brought his movie, "Suicide Squad," to Dubai in 2016 for a Hollywood premiere. Most US movies do not get premieres in Dubai, according to Freidman.
Smith's visits to Dubai have been documented on Esquire's MidEast website.
"I came to Dubai about 15 years ago," Smith said. "I was crossing over to Mumbai. It was the first time that the Emirates Airline had the nonstop from Los Angeles. And so I stayed here a couple days, and it was absolutely amazing to me what the dream of Dubai was..."
"There are just some places where they fit for you. Sometimes you just show up places, and you don't know why, but it just agrees with you. Dubai dreams the way I dream. I'm completely at home, and I feel inspired, and I want to create, and I want to be a part of the ideas, and the bridge between the Middle East and America and the West. I just feel like my gifts would be particularly useful here. I want to be a part of it."
