Going Out

Cinemas

There are a number of cinemas around Abu Dhabi – the majority of them situated in shopping malls – which screen largely mainstream Hollywood and Bollywood films. There are also a couple of smaller independent cinemas in Abu Dhabi, which focus mainly on Hindi films. As yet, there are no IMAX screens in Abu Dhabi, so those wanting the full 3D experience will have to head for cinemas in Dubai (Ibn Battuta Mall is the closest).

There are local cinema idiosyncrasies – freezing air conditioning, people chatting to each other or on their mobile phones, and the heavy hand of the censor can all affect your experience. Also, sound quality can be a little off and Arabic (and often French) subtitles cover the bottom of the screen. That said, it’s a great place to cool off during summer. Vox Cinemas in Dubai rents out screens for private use if you want it all to yourself; you can even play video games on the big screen.

Alternative Screenings
Several of Abu Dhabi’s big hotels hold occasional movie nights featuring giant or even poolside screens. The Alliance Française’s Cine Club has regular screenings of French language films while some of the more progressive art spaces occasionally arrange film nights. New York University Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, runs a series of Cinema Chats during the academic year. The series generally features movies by Arab filmmakers, who take questions from the audience following the film.

Film Festival
Every October the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) showcases Arabic and international film-making talent. Films are shown in venues across the city, like Marina Mall or Emirates Palace, and film fans even get the chance to vote for their favourites and take part in question and answer sessions with the directors. Worth checking out if your movie appetite stretches beyond Hollywood blockbusters.

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