Cinema of the United Arab Emirates

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
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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Emirati films
Films shot in the United Arab Emirates
Ranam (Indian Shortfilm; 2022) Partly Filmed in UAE
Kaanal 3 : Gold Pass (Indian Shortfilm; 2023) Partly Filmed in Dubai, UAE
Wild Abu Dhabi: The Turtles of Al Dhafra (UAE, 2021) filmed in Bu Tinah, Al Dhafra, UAE
The Emirates (2021) filmed in the UAE (UAE, 2021)
Our Sea. Our Heritage (UAE, 2019) filmed in UAE
Saaho (Indian; 2019) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
Xero Error (2010) Filmed in Dubai
Mission Impossible 6 (American; 2018) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
Zayed's Antarctic Lights (UAE; 2018) filmed in the UAE and Antarctica
Back to the Wild (UAE; 2018) filmed in the UAE and Chad
Race 3 (Indian; 2018) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
Tiger Zinda Hai (Indian; 2017) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
War Machine (American; 2017) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
Kung Fu Yoga (Chinese; 2017) partly filmed in Dubai
Star Trek Beyond (American; 2016) partly filmed in Dubai
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (American; 2015) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
Dishoom (Indian; 2016) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
Airlift (Indian; 2016) filmed in Ras Al Khaimah
Furious 7 (American; 2015) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
Madhura Naranga (Malayalam) 2015
Masterpiece (Kannada; 2015) one song
Jacobinte Swargarajyam (Malayalam) 2015
Happy New Year (Indian; 2014) largely filmed in Dubai
Switch (Chinese; 2013) filmed in Dubai
Casanovva (Indian; 2012)
Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (Tamil; 2012) one song
Diamond Necklace (Malayalam) 2012
Dam 999 (Hollywood-Indian collaboration; 2011) partly filmed in Fujairah, UAE
Oru Marubhoomikkadha (Malayalam; 2011)
Singam (Tamil; 2010) one song
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (American; 2010) partly filmed in Dubai
The Kingdom (American; 2007) filmed in Abu Dhabi
Risk (Indian; 2007)
Arabikkatha (Malayalam) 2007
Balram vs. Tharadas (Indian; 2006)
Family: Ties of Blood (Indian; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
Keif al-Hal? (Saudi; 2006)
36 China Town (Indian; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
The Killer (Indian, 2006) mostly filmed in Dubai
Pehla Pehla Pyar (Pakistani; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
Tarap (Pakistani; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
Woh Lamhe (Indian; 2006) partly filmed in Dubai
Kisse Pyaar Karoon (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
Chetna: The Excitement (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
Deewane Huye Paagal (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
El-Sefara fi El-Omara (Egyptian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
Silsiilay (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
Syriana (American; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
Boom (Indian; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai
Pyar Hi Pyar Mein (Pakistani; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai
Talaash: The Hunt Begins... (Indian; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai
Code 46 (British; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai
Chalo Ishq Larain (Pakistani; 2002) partly filmed in Dubai
Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (Indian; 2002) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi
Dubai Return (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya? (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (Indian; 2004) partly filmed in Dubai
Market (Indian; 2003) partly filmed in Dubai
Om Jai Jagadish (Indian; 2002) partly filmed in Dubai
Hera Pheri (Indian, 2000) dream-sequence song filmed in Dubai and its desert
Lahoo Ke Do Rang (Indian; 1997) partly filmed in Dubai
Vishwavidhaata (Indian; 1997)
Naam (Indian; 1986) partly filmed in Dubai
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
Arab cinema
Egyptian cinema
Cinema of Asia
Cinema of the Middle East
References