Sheikh Mohammed meets film star Smith at new Dubai beachfront mall

The movie star and the ruler of Dubai shook hands in front of the new 1 kilometre-long mall at Jumeirah Beach Residence, called ‘The Beach’, which is expected to be open in the coming weeks.

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DUBAI // A new beachfront shopping mall was given the star treatment with a visit by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and the Hollywood actor, Will Smith.

The two men shook hands in front of the new one kilometre-long mall at Jumeirah Beach Residence which is expected to open soon.

The actor then headed to Skydive Dubai with his family, including sons Trey, 21, and Jaden, 15.

“I jumped with Trey and Jaden today,” he said on his Facebook fan page. “I kept thinking to myself, ‘This potentially may be the individual worst display of parenting in African-American history’.”

The film star posted pictures and a video of the skydive on his page, which accumulated more than 12,000 likes in 11 hours.

It is the second time the actor has been in Dubai in as many months. Last month, he was with singer Maxwell to celebrate fellow American celebrity Tyrese Gibson’s birthday.

Anas Bukhash spent a weekend with the three stars, which included a trip to Skydive Dubai.

“I think he really enjoyed it last time,” said Mr Bukhash. “He was very excited to be the first one out of the plane.

“I’m pretty sure that if he came with his family this time, he would have persuaded them to jump with him.”

Mr Bukhash said during Smith’s last visit a member of the Al Habtoor family took the three celebrities out to a desert farm.

“They really enjoyed it because they got to wear the national dress, they got to see falcons and they got to ride a camel,” he said.

“That’s what really enriches someone’s trip, to try things from another culture, rather than doing similar things to what they can do back home.”

mcroucher@thenational.ae