London, May 17 (IANS) The sequel to "Sex and the City" movie might be banned in Abu Dhabi, the Gulf city in which it is set.

The plot of the film shows characters Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes, Charlotte York and Samantha Jones holidaying in the city.

The Emirates' officials had earlier turned down a request to film on location, forcing the cast and crew to head to Morocco to recreate the Abu Dhabi setting.

Shooting Stars, the UAE representatives for distributor Warner Bros, said the officials have still not made a decision about bringing the film to cinemas in the Gulf state after its May 27 release date.

Abu Dhabi has aggressively marketed itself as an emerging hub for film studios and production companies. However, there is a high sensitivity about plots perceived as too racy or politically charged about regional affairs, reports telegraph.co.uk.

According to Leila Hudson, graduate director of the Near Eastern studies at the University of Arizona, UAE's refusal to participate in the film reflects a desire to "control their brand".

"To the Emiratis, that 'city' in the (movie) title sounds like it's referring - logically enough - to their Abu Dhabi rather than New York. That's a little too in your face," Hudson added.