Cinema of the United Arab Emirates | |
---|---|
No. of screens | 333 (2024) [1] |
• Per capita | 3.3 per 100,000 (2024) [1] |
Number of admissions (2024) [2] | |
Total | 72,000,000 |
Gross box office (2024) [3] | |
Total | $730 million |
Cinema of the United Arab Emirates began with a number of feature films that were broadcast on national television since the late 1980s.
In 2002, Emirates Film Competition was formed which influenced a generation of Emirati filmmakers to explore the short film format. The competition was merged onto Abu Dhabi Film Festival, which would eventually be shut down along with the Gulf Film Festival. However, the Dubai International Film Festival was founded in 2004 and continues its run till date. In April 2018, it was announced that the 15th edition of the festival would be postponed to 2019, re-launching as a bi-annual festival after running annually for 14 years [4]
In 2005, The Dream became the first Emirati film to be distributed in cinemas across UAE. Meanwhile, the UAE began to attract South Asian films and television serials, mainly Bollywood and Lollywood productions.
In addition, UAE has a film studio (Dubai Studio City) which has been built to cultivate film making in the region. The Dubai Film and TV Commission (DTFC) which was established in line with Executive Council Decision 16 of 2012 is the sole authority to issue film shooting permits in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Film Commission issues shooting permits to production companies that hold a valid media zone authority trade license. [5]
In 2008, Majid Abdulrazak became the first Emirati filmmaker to adapt a book into a film based on Wilfred Thesiger's Arabian Sands .
In 2009, the second edition of the Gulf Film Festival saw the premiere of two Emirati feature films for the first time. The Circle, by filmmaker and actor Nawaf Al-Janahi, told the story of Ibrahim, a poet and journalist who captures a thief and finds himself changing lives with him. Director and novelist Saleh Karama also showcased his first feature, Henna, in which the title character's mother is sick, and her frequent fits have led to a divorce; fatherless Henna has to find a way to relate to her new father-figure, a Bedouin relative who arrives from the desert with his camels to visit the family.
The sixth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival in 2009 featured further screenings of The Circle and the premiere of the multilingual City of Life by Emirati director Ali F. Mostafa, which went on to achieve general release in UAE cinemas in the following year.
Nawaf Al-Janahi's film Sea Shadow was released on 17 November 2011. [6] It came out on DVD on 25 September 2013.
The first Emirati Science Fiction feature-length film called Aerials was released on 16 June 2016. [7] [8] Directed by S.A.Zaidi and produced by Ghanem Ghubash, Aerials was released in UAE simultaneously with Independence Day 2 as a contrast of both being alien invasion films. [9]
The UAE also has its own independent cinemas such as The Scene Club and Cinema Akil, founded in 2007 and 2014 respectively. Cinema Akil became the first permanent independent cinema house in September 2018. [10]
Abu Dhabi's Environment Agency's Year of Zayed environmental documentary Zayed's Antarctic Lights which chronicled the adventure of the agency's Team Zayed to Antarctica, where they sent a message to the world in solar lights, won a Bronze World Medal at the New York TV & Film Awards. [11]
Abu Dhabi's Environment Agency's 2021 environmental documentary Wild Abu Dhabi: The Turtles of Al Dhafra which showcases the turtles of Al Dhafra and the agency's conservation programme, won a finalist award in the 2021 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards. [12] [13]
Year | Title | Director | Actors | Genre | Notability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Aber Sabeel | Ali Al Abdool | Aisha Abdulrahman, Bilal Abdullah | Drama | First Emirati film |
1990 | Alteen Alakheer | Jassim Jaber | TV film | ||
1996 | Makan Fil Qalb | Mohammed Najib | Mohammed Al Amri, Moza Al Mazrooei, Sameera Ahmad | War, Drama | |
2002 | The Time Machine | Simon Wells | Guy Pearce, Samantha Mumba, Orlando Jones, Mark Addy, Jeremy Irons | Post-apocalyptic, Science fiction | Co-production with the U.S. |
2005 | The Dream | Hani Al Shaibani | Nawaf Al Janahi, Ali Al Jabri, Abdulla Hassan Ahmed | Drama | First Emirati film to release across UAE |
2006 | Tarab Fashion | Mohamed Daham | Hassan Ballam, Mayssa Maghrebi | Comedy | |
2006 | Haneen | Mohammad Al-Traifi | Fatima Abdulrahim, Moza AlMazrooei, Yalda | Drama | |
2006 | Eqaab | Majid Abdulrazak | Majid Albulrazak, Haifa Hussain, Mohammad Al Janahi | Drama | |
2008 | Arabian Sands | Majid Abdulrazak | Abdullah Al Tararwah, Ali Tamimi, Majid Abdulrazak, Murad Fakhri Baluchi | Biographical, Adventure | Based on the book of the same name |
2009 | The Circle | Nawaf Al Janahi | Abdulmohsin Al Nimer, Ali Al Jabri, Nawaf Al Janahi | Crime, Drama | |
2009 | Henna | Saleh Karama | Gazelle, Ayisha Hammed, Salem Obaid Al Raihi | Drama | |
2009 | The Return of Umm Al Duwais | Juma Al Sahli | Sameera Ahmad, Sogha | Horror | TV film |
2010 | City of Life | Ali F. Mostafa | Habib Ghuloom, Saoud Al Kaabi | Drama | |
2011 | Sea Shadow | Nawaf Al Janahi | Neven Madi, Omar Almulla | Drama | |
2013 | Bani Adam | Majid Abdulrazak | Abdulla Abdulaziz, Alaa Shaker | Drama | |
2013 | Hob Malaki | Jamal Salem | Habib Ghuloom, Mansoor Al Feeli, Huda Salah | Romance | |
2013 | Djinn | Tobe Hooper | Abdulla Al Junaibi, Saoud Al Kaabi | Horror | |
2014 | Grandmother's Farm | Ahmed Zain | Saeed Al Sharyani, Khalid Alnuaimi, Yaser Al Neyadi | Horror, Comedy | |
2014 | From A to B | Ali F. Mostafa | Fahad Albutairi, Shadi Alfons | Drama, Comedy | |
2014 | Sundress | Saeed Salmeen Al Murry | Habib Ghuloom, Marrai Alhalyan, Neven Madi, Ahmad Abdullah, Sophia Jawad | Drama | |
2014 | Abood Kandaishan | Fadel AlMheiri | Abdulrahman Al Nakhi, Sawsan Saad | Comedy | |
2014 | Dolphins | Waleed Al Shehhi | Reem Erhama, Khalid Ameen | Adventure, Drama | |
2015 | Zinzana | Majid Alansari | Ali Suliman, Saleh Bakri | Thriller | |
2015 | Going to Heaven | Saeed Salmeen Al Murry | Jumaa Al Zaabi, Fatima Al Taei | Drama | |
2015 | Grandmother's Farm 2 | Ahmed Zain | Saeed Al Sharyani, Khalid Alnuaimi, Yaser Al Neyadi | Horror, Comedy | |
2015 | Abdullah | Humaid Al Suwaidi | Mansoor Al Feeli, Mohammed Al Hammadi, Fatima Al Taei, Alaa Shaker | Drama | |
2016 | Dhay Fe Abu Dhabi | Rakan | Hassan Hosny, Ahmed Saleh | Comedy | |
2016 | Aerials | S A Zaidi | Saga Alyasery, Mansoor Al Feeli | Sci-Fi | First Emirati sci-fi film |
2016 | Hajwala | Ali Bin Muttar, Ibrahim Bin Mohammed | Anwar Aljabri, Sawsan Saad | Action | |
2016 | A Drop of Blood | Nasser Al Tamimi | Habib Ghuloom, Amal Mohammed | Horror | |
2016 | Bilal: A New Breed of Hero | Ayman Jamal, Khurram Alavi | Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jacob Latimore, Andre Robinson, Ian McShane | Animation | |
2017 | The Worthy | Ali F. Mostafa | Ali Suliman, Habib Ghuloom | Action, Thriller | |
2017 | Kart Ahmar | Nasser Al Tamimi | Bilal Abdulla, Badria Ahmed | Sports | |
2017 | Dhay Fe Thailand | Rakan | Hassan Hosny, Ahmed Saleh | Comedy | |
2017 | A Tale of Shadows | Tariq Alkazim | Almer Agmyren, Dijana Divjak, Chuka Ekweogwu | Thriller | |
2017 | Lisa | Ahmed Zain | Ayman Khadim, Nasser Al Dhanhani, Ali Al Shehhi | Comedy | |
2017 | Only Men Go to the Grave | Abdulla Al Kaabi | Abdelreza Nasari, Hebe Sabah, Awatif Salman, Saleema Yaqoub | Drama | Iraqi-language film |
2018 | Awar Qalb | Jamal Salem | Abdulla Zaid, Juma Ali, Neven Madi, Marwa Rateb | Comedy | |
2018 | Fan of Amoory | Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry | Jumaa Al Zaabi, Mansoor Al Feeli, Alaa Shaker | Sports | |
2018 | Wesalna Wela B'adna | Aisha Al Zaabi | Ahmed Abdulrazaq, Fatima Al Hosani, Mariam Sultan | Comedy | |
2018 | Our Argentinian Maid | Hamed Saleh | Ahmed Ahdy, Ahmed Al-Rekabi, Abdelrahman Al-Zaraoni | Comedy | |
2018 | Camera | Abdulla Al Junaibi | Humaid Alawadi, Yaser Alneyadi, Omar Almulla | Thriller | |
2018 | Freej Al Taibeen | Ahmed Zain | Ali Al Shehhi, Huda Alghanim, Khaled Al Nuaimi | Comedy | |
2018 | Until Midnight | Tariq Al Kazim | Ahmed Khamis Ali, Chuka Ekweogwu | Thriller | |
2018 | Hajwala 2 | Ibrahim bin Mohamed | Hussain Al Hosani, Ali Abdulla Al Marzooqi, Abdulla Al Youssif | Action | |
2018 | Shabab Sheyab | Yasir Al-Yasiri | Saad Al Faraj, Mansoor Al Feeli, Marie Al Halyan | Comedy | |
2018 | 11 Days | Sudheer Konderi | Habib Ghuloom, Ahmed Al Hashimi | Family | |
2018 | Back to the Wild | Veronia Iocono | Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Shaikha Al Dhaheri | Environmental Documentary | |
2018 | Zayed's Antarctic Lights | Winston Cowie | Mariam Al Qassimi, Rashed Al Zaabi, Winston Cowie, Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Jane Goodall, Robert Swan. | Environmental Documentary | Bronze World Medal New York Festivals TV & Film Awards |
2019 | Safar Edtirari | Nasser Al Tamimi | Habib Ghuloom, Badria Talbah, Fay Sharqawi, Issa Arab | Comedy | |
2019 | Ali and Alia | Hussain Al Ansari | Khalifa Al Bahri, Neven Madi, Sawsan Saad | Drama, Romance | |
2019 | Rashid & Rajab | Mohammed Saeed Harib | Marwan Abdulla, Shadi Alfons | Comedy | |
2019 | Catsaway | Fadel Al Mheiri | Animation | ||
2019 | Our Sea. Our Heritage | Winston Cowie | Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Shaikha Al Dhaheri | Environmental Documentary | |
2020 | A Tale of Shadows: Illusions | Tariq Alkazim | Chuka Ekweogwu,Robert Cristian Trif | Suspense Drama | Feature Film (Pre-Production) |
2021 | Wild Abu Dhabi: The Turtles of Al Dhafra | Winston Cowie | H.E Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Hind Al Ameri, Maitha Mohamed Al Hameli, Ibrahim Bugla, Ahmed Esmaeil Al Hashmi | Environmental Documentary | 2021 Finalist - New York Festivals TV and Film Awards |
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal, elective monarchy composed of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi as its capital. It shares land borders with Oman to the east and northeast, and with Saudi Arabia to the southwest; as well as maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran, and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman. As of 2024, the UAE has an estimated population of over 10 million, of which 11% are Emiratis; Dubai is the most populous city and is an international hub. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language, while English is the most spoken language and the language of business.
E 11 is a highway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The longest road in the Emirates, it stretches from the Al Batha border crossing at the Saudi Arabia–UAE border in al-Silah in the al-Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and ends at the Oman–UAE border crossing of al-Darah in al-Jeer, Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, running roughly parallel to UAE's coastline along the Persian Gulf. The road forms the main artery in some emirates' main cities, where it assumes various alternate names —Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, Al Ittihad Road in Sharjah Emirate and Ajman Emirate, and Sheikh Muhammad bin Salem Road in Ras al-Khaimah.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, often referred to as Sheikh Mansour, is an Emirati royal and politician who is the current vice president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the minister of presidential court and member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi. He is the brother of the current president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and is married to Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. A billionaire, he holds stakes in a variety of football clubs through City Football Group, including current Premier League winners Manchester City F.C.
Indians in the United Arab Emirates constitute the largest part of the population of the country. Over 3,860,000 Indian expats are estimated to be living in the United Arab Emirates, with over 38% of the country's total population and the fourth highest number of overseas Indians in the world, after the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia. Indian contact with the emirates that now constitute the UAE dates back several centuries, as a result of trade and commerce between the emirates and India. The UAE has experienced a tremendous increase in the population of resident Indians who initially migrated to the country as a result of opportunities in petroleum. Now, Indians are key to the UAE's construction, retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and transport sectors. A sizeable minority of Indian migrants are involved in professional services and entrepreneurship. Relations between India and the UAE have traditionally been very friendly.
Bu Tinah is a tiny archipelago amid extensive coral formations and seagrass beds some 25 km south of Zirku and 35 north of Marawah in the United Arab Emirates. Found in the waters of Abu Dhabi, it is protected as a private nature reserve. Bu Tinah Island, rich in biodiversity, lies within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve with a territory of more than 4,000 km2. The biosphere reserve is the region's first and largest UNESCO-designated marine biosphere reserve. It has been a recognized UNESCO site since 2001. Closed to visitors, fishing and the collection of turtle eggs are prohibited on Bu Tinah Island; the ban being enforced by patrols. An Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi Ranger Station is located on the island.
Israel–United Arab Emirates relations traces its origins to the early days of the Oslo Accords, where Israeli and Emirati diplomats had contact with each other in the 1990's in Washington, D.C. The first diplomatic facility between the two countries opened in 2015, when Israel opened an official diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi to the International Renewable Energy Agency.
China – United Arab Emirates relations refer to the diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates. Diplomatic ties were first established in 1984. The UAE maintains an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Hong Kong while China has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate-general in Dubai. The UAE and China have been strong international allies, with significant cooperation across economic, political and cultural aspects.
Madīnat Zāyid is the largest city and the administrative centre of Al Dhafra, the westernmost and largest region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The township was established in 1968 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE. In the census of 2005, the city had 29,095 inhabitants.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is a governmental agency established in 1996 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), tasked with environmental protection matters in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The Mazari is a tribe of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Mazari settled throughout the Trucial States but principally in Abu Dhabi. They are considered a subsection of the Bani Yas and formed the majority of the Bedouin component of that federation of tribes.
Khalifa bin Zayed Air College (KBZAC) is a military air force academy and college of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces and is the main training institution of the United Arab Emirates Air Force. It is located in Al Ain.
Al Dhafra Futsal Club is an Emirati futsal club from Madinat Zayed and part of AL DHAFRA SC family. Club participated in AFC Futsal Club Championship.
Winston Cowie is a Marine conservationist, author and film director.
Majid Al Ansari, is an Emirati filmmaker. He is best known as the director of critically acclaimed film Zinzana: Rattle the Cage and Netflix's first Egyptian television series Paranormal.
Events in the year 2022 in the United Arab Emirates.
Year of Zayed was observed throughout 2018 in the United Arab Emirates to celebrate the centenary birth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, the tribal leader and politician who founded the United Arab Emirates in 1971 and served as its inaugural president until his death in 2004. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, his son and the-then president issued directives in 2017 that designated the consecutive year in honor of his legacy. It was held under four main themes, namely wisdom, respect, sustainability and human development.