UAE's top 10 grossing films

In the same way that a film fan’s favourite movies can tell you a lot about their personality, the films that make the most money at the box office can reveal a lot about what makes a city tick. Judging by the money-makers that have made it big in the UAE, the emirates’ residents like action, and a lot of it, although there are a couple of surprises on the list. So grab a bucket of popcorn, take a seat and relax as we take a look at the UAE’s highest-grossing box-office hits.

1 Avatar (2009)
UAE total box-office earnings: Dhs26.9 million
James Cameron’s epic 3D sci-fi adventure took a leisurely five years from inception to completion. When it was finally released in 2009, it made waves around the world, so it’s no surprise that Dubai was eager to get in on the act. The story follows former marine Sully (played by Aussie actor Sam Worthington) on his quest to the otherworldly planet of Pandora, where he must find a rare mineral that will conserve the earth’s energy. To protect himself from Pandora’s toxic air, Sully must use an avatar, engineered by both human and native (and very blue) DNA. Like any good blockbuster, the story has a generous dose of action, adventure and romance that, coupled with groundbreaking visual effects, made this a cinema must-see.