By Vlad Zakh · December 29, 2025
The UAE’s film industry is young, but its breakout genre films punch above the country’s tiny output. Rattle the Cage has a man waking in an Abu Dhabi cell with no memory of his crime, The Worthy has survivors guarding a clean water source, and From A to B has three friends road-tripping across the Middle East in honor of a late friend. Sea Shadow, City of Life, Neighbourhood of the Good Old Days and Abdullah round out the list.
01 A man wakes up in an Abu Dhabi jail cell with no memory of the crime that put him there.
Directed by Majid al-Ansari · 1h 36m
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store
02 Survivors of a global collapse guarding one of the last clean water sources take in strangers who may not be what they seem.
Directed by Ali F. Mostafa · 1h 35m
Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Stream: Netflix
03 Three childhood friends set off on a spontaneous road trip across the Middle East to honour a dead friend.
Directed by Ali F. Mostafa · 1h 48m
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
04 Two Emirati teenagers' summer friendship is tested by a reckless, dangerous prank gone wrong.
Directed by Nawaf Al-Janahi · 1h 38m
05 Three strangers from wildly different backgrounds have their lives unexpectedly intertwine across Dubai.
Directed by Ali F. Mostafa · 1h 59m
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
06 Longtime residents of a fast-changing Dubai neighbourhood reckon with the city outside their doors.
Directed by Ahmed Zain · 1h 40m
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
07 A young Emirati man's traditional upbringing clashes with the modern life he has built in Dubai.
Directed by Humaid Al-Suwaidi · 1h 37m
Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.
