Lindsay Lohan, known for roles in “Mean Girls” and “Freaky Friday,” relocated from Los Angeles to Dubai in 2014 to escape the stress of Hollywood and paparazzi scrutiny. Now 38, the actress, featured on the cover of Elle’s 2025 Summer Issue, opened up about her life in the United Arab Emirates, where she has found privacy, safety, and balance as a wife and mother. Married to Bader Shammas since 2022, Lohan is a mother to 1-year-old Luai and has embraced a routine centered on family and well-being. The move marked a personal and professional transformation, with Lohan returning to the screen in projects like “Freakier Friday.” Her interview details her adjustment to a calmer lifestyle, far from the media frenzy that defined her career.
The decision to leave Hollywood came after nearly three decades in the spotlight, starting at age 3. Lohan faced intense public scrutiny, particularly in her youth, prompting her to seek a more private environment.
- Move to Dubai: Lohan relocated in 2014 for greater privacy.
- Family life: Married to Bader Shammas, she focuses on raising Luai.
- Film comeback: Lohan stars in the “Freaky Friday” sequel in 2025.
Motivation for relocating
At 26, Lindsay Lohan left Los Angeles, where paparazzi made simple outings, like park visits with her son, stressful. In Dubai, she found an environment offering privacy and security, free from media intrusion. The city, known for its modern infrastructure and international communities, provides the space Lohan craved, which she compares favorably to Los Angeles but without the drawbacks of fame.
The move also allowed Lohan to reassess her relationship with the media. In prior interviews, she noted how tabloids controlled her narrative, motivating her to step back temporarily to focus on her work.
Family routine and balance
Life in Dubai brought a structure Lohan cherishes. She describes a morning routine of journaling, drinking green tea, eating breakfast with her son, and practicing Pilates. The actress emphasizes the importance of consistent schedules, especially for Luai, whose routine shapes the family’s daily life.
Married to Bader Shammas, a financial executive, since 2022, Lohan prioritizes family. Dubai’s stability enables her to balance professional commitments with personal life, a challenge in Los Angeles or even New York, where the urban pace feels more intense.
- Daily routine: Journaling, green tea, Pilates, and family time.
- Family focus: Lohan centers her life around her husband and son.
- Stability: Dubai offers a calm setting for raising Luai.
Return to acting
After years away from the spotlight, Lohan has returned with selective projects, including “Freakier Friday” alongside Jamie Lee Curtis. Her choice of roles reflects a more discerning approach, learned from experience. Lohan shared that early in her career, she was encouraged to accept every offer, but now values saying “no” to prioritize mental health and personal goals.
Her collaboration with Curtis, a close confidante, reinforced lessons about self-care. Curtis advised Lohan to put her well-being first, a practice she has integrated into her Dubai lifestyle. The film, set for release in 2025, marks a career resurgence.
Battling media scrutiny
Lohan’s career, launched with the 1998 hit “The Parent Trap,” was overshadowed by relentless media coverage. Paparazzi and tabloids often focused on her personal life, eclipsing her work. This pressure drove her to Dubai, where the lack of invasive gossip culture allowed her to reconnect with her core self.
In 2022, Lohan discussed using social media to shape her narrative, a tool unavailable early in her career. She carefully reviews posts, consulting trusted contacts to ensure her public image aligns with her current identity.
- Tabloid pressure: Media scrutiny dominated her early years.
- Social media: Lohan uses platforms to control her public image.
- Privacy in Dubai: The city shields her from paparazzi.
Health and appearance care
Lohan addressed speculation about her appearance, denying rumors of plastic surgery like facelifts. She credits her transformation to changes in skincare and diet, particularly after Luai’s birth. Postpartum skin sensitivity prompted blood tests to identify allergies, leading to dietary adjustments.
Her beauty routine includes a morning juice of carrot, ginger, lemon, olive oil, and apple, plus green tea, chia seed-infused water, and pickled beets. Lohan also uses ice-cold water on her face, eye patches, and laser treatments, though she stopped Morpheus8 due to her skin’s thinness.
Career lessons and self-care
Hollywood taught Lohan the value of setting boundaries. She highlighted Jamie Lee Curtis’s advice to prioritize self-care, now a cornerstone of her life. Her Dubai routine, with fixed schedules and activities like Pilates, embodies this philosophy. Motherhood further emphasized balance, with Lohan aligning her schedule to Luai’s needs.
The ability to decline irrelevant projects marked a shift in her professional approach. After years of accepting all offers, Lohan now chooses roles aligned with her vision, such as “Freakier Friday” and “Irish Wish,” released in 2024.
- Self-care: Lohan follows Curtis’s advice to prioritize health.
- Project selection: She now carefully chooses roles.
- Motherhood: Luai shapes her routine and career choices.
Dubai versus other cities
Lohan compared her experiences in Dubai, Los Angeles, and New York. In Los Angeles, paparazzi surveillance caused stress, while New York, though less intrusive, has a fast-paced energy that hinders relaxation. Dubai offers space, privacy, and safety, allowing Lohan to live without media concerns.
The city’s international community and infrastructure support raising Luai. Lohan values the sense of security, crucial for her family’s well-being.
Impact of motherhood
Luai’s arrival in 2023 transformed Lohan’s life. Motherhood prompted her to reassess her diet, skincare, and priorities. She describes Luai’s routine as the family’s anchor, with his schedule dictating her daily activities. Dubai’s stability facilitates this adjustment, enabling Lohan to juggle motherhood and her career.
Postpartum skin changes led to a more natural approach to self-care, emphasizing hydration and healthy eating. These shifts reflect a phase of greater self-awareness.
- Child’s routine: Luai’s schedule drives family life.
- Postpartum changes: Skin sensitivity spurred diet and care adjustments.
- Balance: Dubai supports blending motherhood with work.
Future projects and legacy
Beyond “Freakier Friday,” Lohan has pursued projects like Netflix’s “Irish Wish.” Her return to acting focuses on showcasing her work, not her personal life. She expressed frustration over how tabloids overshadowed her career but views her current phase as a chance for redemption.
Her involvement in events like ChristmasCon, alongside peers like Jonathan Bennett and Lacey Chabert, reconnects her with longtime fans. These endeavors highlight her evolving image from Dubai.
