Abu Dhabi, UAE — The UAE cinema sector achieved revenues of AED 517 million during the first eight months of this year, attracting about 11 million visits to cinemas, the Emirates Media Council revealed.
Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Secretary General of the Emirates Media Council, said that the UAE accounts for 30 percent of the Middle East market share in cinema revenues, thanks to continuous investments in the infrastructure of the film sector and strong partnerships with major international film studios.
Al Shehhi said: “The Emirates Media Council is keen to enhance the contribution of the media economy to the local economic system by providing stimulating policies and innovative and fast services to filmmakers, thus contributing to a competitive environment that supports the sustainable growth of the media sector in the country. We aim to provide a creative environment that enables filmmakers to deliver world-class content in line with the UAE’s media content standards and meet the aspirations of the UAE’s diverse society.”
“These figures are a testament to the diversity of the cinematic content we offer in the UAE, which meets the aspirations of a diverse community of more than 200 nationalities. Cinema in the UAE is not just an entertainment medium, it is a window that reflects the cultural diversity of our society, and provides a platform for communication between the different cultures living in the country.”
The UAE cinema sector includes 702 screens spread across 72 locations across the UAE.