Lindsay Lohan Finds Peace in Dubai After Leaving Hollywood

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – May 30, 2025 – Lindsay Lohan, the former child star and Mean Girls actress, has found a sense of calm and privacy in Dubai since relocating there in 2014, stepping away from the intense scrutiny of Hollywood. In an interview with Elle for its 2025 Summer Issue, the 38-year-old actress, now a wife and mother, opened up about her life in the Middle East, where she has built a new routine centered around family and selective acting projects. “In Dubai, I get the privacy, I get the peace, I get the space. I don’t have to worry there; I feel safe,” Lohan said, highlighting the contrast to her experiences in Los Angeles, where she felt stressed about paparazzi, even when taking her son to the park.

Lohan, who began her career at age three and rose to fame with Disney’s The Parent Trap (1998) and Freaky Friday (2003), faced relentless media attention during her early 20s, exacerbated by legal troubles, including probation violations and rehab stays. She told Bustle in March 2024, “I feel like some of [my work] got overshadowed by paparazzi and all that kind of stuff when I was younger, and that’s kind of annoying. I wish that part didn’t happen.” Her move to Dubai, where photographing someone without consent is illegal, offered a reprieve from the tabloid frenzy that often overshadowed her professional achievements.

Since settling in Dubai, Lohan has married financier Bader Shammas in 2022 and welcomed their son, Luai, in July 2023. She described her daily routine to Flaunt magazine as “lowkey,” involving waking up with her son, sharing breakfast, and attending Pilates, emphasizing a “normal” life that aligns with her role as a mother. “It’s all about balance and routine. Especially when you have a kid, routine is the most important thing,” she told Elle. Lohan’s husband, whom she met in Dubai, has been a grounding force, credited as an executive producer on her recent film Irish Wish and offering intuitive support for her career decisions.

Lohan’s relocation wasn’t just about escaping Hollywood’s glare; it allowed her to redefine her career and personal life. She has returned to acting with projects like Netflix’s Falling for Christmas (2022), Irish Wish (2024), and the upcoming Freakier Friday sequel, choosing roles her son can eventually watch. She also ventured into entrepreneurship, opening beach clubs in Greece and planning a beauty brand, though she remains cautious about media exposure, carefully vetting her social media posts.

Public sentiment on X reflects mixed views. Fans like @lavitalohan celebrated her serene life in Dubai, sharing images of her Christmas setup, while @thesarahgorman questioned the praise for her comeback, citing her Dubai residency skeptically. Lohan’s move has allowed her to reclaim her narrative, as she told Cosmopolitan, “When I first started out, none of us had a say in how to control our own narrative… I think it’s really good that, in this day and age, people can say who they are.” Her life in Dubai, with its privacy and community, has provided the stability to balance motherhood and a selective return to Hollywood.