Cinema of the United Arab Emirates
No. of screens255 (2010)[1]
 • Per capita3.2 per 100,000 (2010)[1]
Number of admissions (2011)[2]
Total12,600,000
Gross box office (2012)[3]
Total$119 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]

Emirati films

YearTitleDirectorActorsGenreNotability
1988Aber SabeelAli Al AbdoolAisha Abdulrahman, Bilal AbdullahDramaFirst Emirati film
1990Alteen AlakheerJassim JaberTV film
1996Makan Fil QalbMohammed NajibMohammed Al Amri, Moza Al Mazrooei, Sameera AhmadWar, Drama
2002The Time MachineSimon WellsGuy Pearce, Samantha Mumba, Orlando Jones, Mark Addy, Jeremy IronsPost-apocalyptic, Science fictionCo-production with the U.S.
2005The DreamHani Al ShaibaniNawaf Al Janahi, Ali Al Jabri, Abdulla Hassan AhmedDramaFirst Emirati film to release across UAE
2006Tarab FashionMohamed DahamHassan Ballam, Mayssa MaghrebiComedy
2006HaneenMohammad Al-TraifiFatima Abdulrahim, Moza AlMazrooei, YaldaDrama
2006EqaabMajid AbdulrazakMajid Albulrazak, Haifa Hussain, Mohammad Al JanahiDrama
2008Arabian SandsMajid AbdulrazakAbdullah Al Tararwah, Ali Tamimi, Majid Abdulrazak, Murad Fakhri BaluchiBiographical, AdventureBased on the book of the same name
2009The CircleNawaf Al JanahiAbdulmohsin Al Nimer, Ali Al Jabri, Nawaf Al JanahiCrime, Drama
2009HennaSaleh KaramaGazelle, Ayisha Hammed, Salem Obaid Al RaihiDrama
2009The Return of Umm Al DuwaisJuma Al SahliSameera Ahmad, SoghaHorrorTV film
2010City of LifeAli F. MostafaHabib Ghuloom, Saoud Al KaabiDrama
2011Sea ShadowNawaf Al JanahiNeven Madi, Omar AlmullaDrama
2013Bani AdamMajid AbdulrazakAbdulla Abdulaziz, Alaa ShakerDrama
2013Hob MalakiJamal SalemHabib Ghuloom, Mansoor Al Feeli, Huda SalahRomance
2013DjinnTobe HooperAbdulla Al Junaibi, Saoud Al KaabiHorror
2014Grandmother's FarmAhmed ZainSaeed Al Sharyani, Khalid Alnuaimi, Yaser Al NeyadiHorror, Comedy
2014From A to BAli F. MostafaFahad Albutairi, Shadi AlfonsDrama, Comedy
2014SundressSaeed Salmeen Al MurryHabib Ghuloom, Marrai Alhalyan, Neven Madi, Ahmad Abdullah, Sophia JawadDrama
2014Abood KandaishanFadel AlMheiriAbdulrahman Al Nakhi, Sawsan SaadComedy
2014DolphinsWaleed Al ShehhiReem Erhama, Khalid AmeenAdventure, Drama
2015ZinzanaMajid AlansariAli Suliman, Saleh BakriThriller
2015Going to HeavenSaeed Salmeen Al MurryJumaa Al Zaabi, Fatima Al TaeiDrama
2015Grandmother's Farm 2Ahmed ZainSaeed Al Sharyani, Khalid Alnuaimi, Yaser Al NeyadiHorror, Comedy
2015AbdullahHumaid Al SuwaidiMansoor Al Feeli, Mohammed Al Hammadi, Fatima Al Taei, Alaa ShakerDrama
2016Dhay Fe Abu DhabiRakanHassan Hosny, Ahmed SalehComedy
2016AerialsS A ZaidiSaga Alyasery, Mansoor Al FeeliSci-FiFirst Emirati sci-fi film
2016HajwalaAli Bin Muttar, Ibrahim Bin MohammedAnwar Aljabri, Sawsan SaadAction
2016A Drop of BloodNasser Al TamimiHabib Ghuloom, Amal MohammedHorror
2016 Bilal: A New Breed of Hero Ayman Jamal, Khurram Alavi Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jacob Latimore, Andre Robinson, Ian McShane Animation
2017The WorthyAli F. MostafaAli Suliman, Habib GhuloomAction, Thriller
2017Kart AhmarNasser Al TamimiBilal Abdulla, Badria AhmedSports
2017Dhay Fe ThailandRakanHassan Hosny, Ahmed SalehComedy
2017A Tale of ShadowsTariq AlkazimAlmer Agmyren, Dijana Divjak, Chuka EkweogwuThriller
2017LisaAhmed ZainAyman Khadim, Nasser Al Dhanhani, Ali Al ShehhiComedy
2017Only Men Go to the GraveAbdulla Al KaabiAbdelreza Nasari, Hebe Sabah, Awatif Salman, Saleema YaqoubDramaIraqi-language film
2018Awar QalbJamal SalemAbdulla Zaid, Juma Ali, Neven Madi, Marwa RatebComedy
2018Fan of AmoorySaeed Salmeen Al-MurryJumaa Al Zaabi, Mansoor Al Feeli, Alaa ShakerSports
2018Wesalna Wela B'adnaAisha Al ZaabiAhmed Abdulrazaq, Fatima Al Hosani, Mariam SultanComedy
2018Our Argentinian MaidHamed SalehAhmed Ahdy, Ahmed Al-Rekabi, Abdelrahman Al-ZaraoniComedy
2018CameraAbdulla Al JunaibiHumaid Alawadi, Yaser Alneyadi, Omar AlmullaThriller
2018Freej Al TaibeenAhmed ZainAli Al Shehhi, Huda Alghanim, Khaled Al NuaimiComedy
2018 Until Midnight Tariq Al Kazim Ahmed Khamis Ali, Chuka Ekweogwu Thriller
2018Hajwala 2Ibrahim bin MohamedHussain Al Hosani, Ali Abdulla Al Marzooqi, Abdulla Al YoussifAction
2018Shabab SheyabYasir Al-YasiriSaad Al Faraj, Mansoor Al Feeli, Marie Al HalyanComedy
201811 DaysSudheer KonderiHabib Ghuloom, Ahmed Al HashimiFamily
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
2019Safar EdtirariNasser Al TamimiHabib Ghuloom, Badria Talbah, Fay Sharqawi, Issa ArabComedy
2019Ali and AliaHussain Al AnsariKhalifa Al Bahri, Neven Madi, Sawsan SaadDrama, Romance
2019Rashid & RajabMohammed Saeed HaribMarwan Abdulla, Shadi AlfonsComedy
2019CatsawayFadel Al MheiriAnimation
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

Films shot in the United Arab Emirates

Emirati directors

  • Abdulhalim Qayed
  • Abdullah Hasan Ahmed
  • Abdulla Al Junaibi
  • Abdulla Al Kaabi
  • Ahmed Zain
  • Ali F. Mostafa
  • Fayssal Bensahli
  • Khaled Bensahli
  • Jamal Salem
  • Khaled Alrayhi
  • Majid Abdulrazak
  • Majid Al Ansari
  • Nayla Al Khaja
  • Nawaf Al-Janahi
  • Saeed Salmeen Al-Murry
  • Tariq Alkazim
  • Rakan
  • Rawia Abdullah
  • Waleed Al Shehhi
  • Nahla Al Fahad
  • Ibrahim Bin Mohamed
  • Ali Bin Matar

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Table 8: Cinema Infrastructure - Capacity". UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Table 11: Exhibition - Admissions & Gross Box Office (GBO)". UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "International Box Office: 13 Hot Emerging Markets". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (19 April 2018). "Dubai Film Festival Cancels Next Edition, Ends Existing Format".
  5. ↑ "Filming in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Overseas". 22 September 2019.
  6. ↑ Article about Sea Shadow in The National newspaper, 15 May 2012
  7. ↑ "UAE sci-fi thriller Aerials flies into cinemas".
  8. ↑ "Aerials (Arabic)".
  9. ↑ "Aerial assault: new Emirati sci-fi drama invades cinemas".
  10. ↑ "Cinema Akil gets a permanent home". 27 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "EAD documentary wins World Medal at New York Festivals Awards". wam. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  12. ↑ Cowie, Winston (2021-02-17), Wild Abu Dhabi: The Turtles of Al Dhafra (Short), Hind Al Ameri, Ibrahim Bugla, Winston Cowie, Maitha Mohamed Al Hameli, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, Mile Studios, retrieved 2021-06-12
  13. ↑ "Wild Abu Dhabi The Turtles of Al Dhafra". National Geographic - Videos, TV Shows & Photos - Middle East - English. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  14. ↑ "Dam 999 movie to start shooting in Dubai Hong-kong". calcuttatube.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-05. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  15. ↑ "DAM 999, another page for the Guinness book". wikio.co.in. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
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