Ringed by numerous moons, the remote sanctuary of Utapau is a planet pitted with enormous sinkholes. Its windswept surface is dry and desert-like, but deep in the porous crust, at the bottom of the sinkholes are pools of life-giving water. Many of the sinkholes on one of the planet's small continents are lined with intricate cities that stretch deep into caves and crevices beneath the planet's surface, as well as mining operations that seek to uncover valuable minerals from the planet's depths.

Pau'ans are tall humanoids from Utapau with an intimidating appearance, including jagged teeth, nails, and lined skin. The Pau’ans shared Utapau with their smaller neighbors, the Utai, as well as with bands of Amani and Sugi. The Pau’ans ran Utapau’s government and dealt with outsiders visiting the planet. The Inquisitor, the Empire's Jedi hunter, was a Pau'an.

Greeting Obi-Wan Kenobi during his search for General Grievous on windswept Utapau was Port Administrator Tion Medon. The tall, gaunt Utapaun initially feigned ignorance about Grievous' whereabouts, but then whispered a warning to Kenobi. Grievous was indeed on the planet, hiding on the tenth level of the sinkhole city with an army of thousands of battle droids.

Not much is known about the Empire’s Grand Inquisitor. A Pau’an male, he was tasked by Darth Vader to hunt down any surviving Jedi Knights. The Inquistor was an intimidating figure, dressed in all black and wielding a red, double-bladed lightsaber. After several encounters with Kanan Jarrus and his Padawan Ezra Bridger, the Inquisitor died in a lightsaber duel with Kanan – but warned the rogue Jedi that his victory had unleashed something terrible.

While the Sugi may be small in stature they have a big reputation as the premier arms dealers in the galaxy. Many Sugi wear “power suits” with four giant insectoid legs that more than double their height and make them physically imposing. On Utapau, a group of Sugi, led by Endente, attempt to get back a giant kyber crystal in the possession of the separatists.

Amani were a species with yellow-and-green colored skin, short legs and large hands connected to arms long enough to reach the ground. Amani often carry with them a staff on which is strung a number of skulls, presumably obtained first-hand. Found on Utapau, they are usually found on the plains or underground, but rarely venture into the cities.