Cinemas and Concerts

For a quiet night on the town, visitors to Abu Dhabi can catch the latest Hollywood, Bollywood and Arabic blockbusters at any of the emirate’s numerous cinemas. There are eight major cinemas in Abu Dhabi and three in Al Ain, with most showing English and Arabic language films and a few showing Indian films. One cinema in Abu Dhabi – Movita – caters exclusively to women.
The majority of the cinemas are multi-screens complexes, where movie-goers can enjoy comfortable seating and state-of-the-art visual and audio technologies, as well as the usual cinema fare from the concession stands.
Movie timings can be found in the local daily newspapers or on the cinema websites.
Moreover, moviegoers can enjoy the latest movies, for all ages and nationalities, at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. The foundation also regularly hosts foreign film festivals and showings in association with the various foreign embassies and cultural centres in the capital. Movie timings and programs can be found on the Cultural Foundation’s website.
Abu Dhabi is also home to the Emirates Film Festival held annually at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. The festival showcases mainly short films and documentaries, as well as animation and experimental films, made by young filmmakers from the region. Usually held in March, the festival is a must for those visitors looking to gain an insight into local culture and society.
Another highlight of the emirate’s film scene is the Middle East International Film Festival held in October at the luxurious Emirates Palace Hotel. The film festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage is expected to position the emirate prominently amongst the film festival capitals of the world.