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.Article about Sea Shadow in The National newspaper, 15 May 2012 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
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 2016Bilal: A New Breed of HeroAyman Jamal, Khurram AlaviAdewale 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 2018Until MidnightTariq Al KazimAhmed Khamis Ali, Chuka EkweogwuThriller 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 2018Back to the WildVeronia IoconoRazan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Shaikha Al DhaheriEnvironmental Documentary2018Zayed's Antarctic LightsWinston CowieMariam Al Qassimi, Rashed Al Zaabi, Winston Cowie, Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Jane Goodall, Robert Swan.Environmental DocumentaryBronze 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 2019Our Sea. Our HeritageWinston CowieRazan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Shaikha Al DhaheriEnvironmental documentary2021Wild Abu Dhabi: The Turtles of Al DhafraWinston CowieH.E Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Hind Al Ameri, Maitha Mohamed Al Hameli, Ibrahim Bugla, Ahmed Esmaeil Al HashmiEnvironmental Documentary2021 Finalist - New York Festivals TV and Film Awards 2024 Late Night with the Devil Colin and Cameron Cairnes David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss, Fayssal Bazzi, Ingrid Torelli, Rhys Auteri, Georgina Haig, Josh Quong Tart Horror TBAA Tale of Shadows: IllusionsTariq AlkazimChuka Ekweogwu, Robert Cristian TrifSuspense DramaFeature film (pre-production)
Films shot in the United Arab Emirates
Saaho (Indian; 2019) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi Xero Error (2010) Filmed in Dubai Mission: Impossible – Fallout (American; 2018) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi 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 Deewane Huye Paagal (Indian; 2005) partly filmed in Dubai Dune: Part Two (American; 2024) partly filmed in Abu Dhabi 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 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