Will Smith slams Trump and Islamophobia at Dubai event

The American actor said Islamophobia pushed him to attend the event in Dubai, where he tweeted pictures captioned, "Hey, it doesn't look like they hate me, does it?"

Smith criticised the American news channel Fox News, saying it cannot "be the arbiter of the imagery" from the Middle East.

He encouraged the region's filmmakers and producers to find more ways to tell their story to the world.

"So cinema is a huge way to be able to deliver the truth of the soul of a place to a global audience," he said.

The actor said he believes it's important "to speak out about the insanity" surrounding the US presidential race.

Earlier in his campaign, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he would temporarily ban Muslims from entering the US, sparking outcry particularly in Dubai, where Trump has lent his name to several high-profile real estate projects.

"As painful as it is to hear Donald Trump talk and as embarrassing as it is as an American to hear him talk, I think it's good," Smith said.

"We get to know who people are and now we get to cleanse it out of our country."

Smith has been vocal about issues of race and discrimination in Hollywood.

He and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith boycotted this year's Oscar ceremony to protest two straight years of all-white acting nominees.

The academy later promised to double the number of female and minority members and diversify its leadership.

He said on Sunday he believes it's his responsibility as a black man to create an impression with people.

"They have to know that your black skin won't hurt them," he said, recalling advice he had received years ago from the late South African leader Nelson Mandela.

Agencies contributed to this report.