The UAE participates in the Gulf Film Festival in Oman
Abu Dhabi, November 17, 2025 – The Ministry of Culture is participating in the activities of the fifth session of the Gulf Film Festival, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman from November 16 to 19, 2025, with four Emirati films that highlight the development of the film industry in the country and its pioneering role in the Gulf cultural scene.
Asma Al Hammadi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for National Identity and Arts, confirmed that the cinema sector represents a fundamental pillar of the creative economy and an effective tool in enhancing the country’s cultural identity, noting that participation in this festival comes within the framework of the Ministry of Culture’s commitment to supporting Emirati filmmakers and celebrating their achievements.
The list of participating films from the UAE includes the horror film “Houba” by director Majid Al Ansari, and the film “Eid Two Eids” by director Maitha Al Awadhi, which is a joint Emirati-Saudi comedy, in addition to the film “Zarmar” by director Alawiya Thani, which deals with a person’s struggle with his ambitions in a human drama framework, and the film “Birthday Girl” by director Badr Muhammad, which takes place in a dramatic comedy framework.
In its current session, the festival honors Emirati director, screenwriter and producer Abdullah Hassan Ahmed, in appreciation of his long career in supporting the national film industry and his qualitative contributions to establishing the Emirati film movement and bringing it to the global arena.
Abdullah Hassan is considered one of the most prominent pioneers of Emirati cinema, as he presented more than a dozen short films between 2001 and 2013, and during his distinguished artistic career he won many awards, in addition to his recent participation in the film “Rituals of Water, Mountain and Light,” which includes selections from the most prominent productions of Emirati cinema over the past fifteen years.
It is worth noting that the Gulf Film Festival is one of the most prominent joint cultural festivals among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It is held every two years with the aim of promoting cultural and artistic exchange and supporting the film industry in the region. The festival includes cinematic screenings of a group of feature films, short films and documentaries, in addition to seminars, workshops and dialogues with leading filmmakers.
The Ministry of Culture’s participation in this session comes as an extension of its pioneering role in supporting Gulf cinema, and it is noteworthy that Abu Dhabi hosted the third session of the festival in 2016.
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