A Minecraft Movie brings the video game to life. Photo: Warner Bros.
A Minecraft Movie brings the video game to life. Photo: Warner Bros.
A Minecraft Movie brings the video game to life. Photo: Warner Bros.
A Minecraft Movie brings the video game to life. Photo: Warner Bros.

Eid Al Fitr 2025: The biggest movies coming to Middle East cinemas


Faisal Al Zaabi
  • English
  • Arabic

Eid Al Fitr is a time of family gatherings after a month of fasting. It also marks a resurgence in cinema attendance as moviegoers return following the holy month, when home entertainment takes precedence.

This Eid Al Fitr, film enthusiasts can enjoy a diverse line-up of major releases, ranging from family entertainment to action-packed experiences. With the holiday expected to fall on April 1, here’s a look at the biggest films coming to UAE cinemas.

Sikandar

Salman Khan in Sikandar, about fighting corruption. Photo: Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment
Salman Khan in Sikandar, about fighting corruption. Photo: Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment

Salman Khan continues his streak of releasing a big blockbuster film on Eid with Sikandar. Directed by AR Murugadoss, the film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Sathyaraj and Kajal Aggarwal.

Sikandar is about the fight against corruption and giving power back to the people. The film runs for 140 minutes and features songs by Pritam Chakraborty.

A Minecraft Movie

Director Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre) has brought one of the world's most beloved video games to life. A Minecraft Movie stars Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge and Kate McKinnon. It follows a group of people who end up in the world of the game and need to escape before they are hurt, or worse.

A perennial hit with children, the game was always going to get the big-screen treatment eventually. The cube-like design of the characters and objects in the game have been carried over for the film, with added details to give it a more organic look.

The Monkey

The Monkey is directed by Osgood Perkins and is an adaptation of a Stephen King short story. Photo: Neon
The Monkey is directed by Osgood Perkins and is an adaptation of a Stephen King short story. Photo: Neon

Osgood Perkins surprised horror fans last year with his supernatural crime procedural Longlegs. Many wondered what his next project would be, before it was announced that it would be an adaptation of Stephen King’s short story, The Monkey.

The film stars Theo James, Tatiana Maslany and Elijah Wood and follows a set of twins who find a toy monkey that causes elaborate deaths. Perkins himself appears in the film and has promised horror fans an experience full of gruesome scenes and buckets of blood.

Novocaine

Jack Quaid plays a man who cannot feel pain in Novocaine. Photo: Paramount Pictures
Jack Quaid plays a man who cannot feel pain in Novocaine. Photo: Paramount Pictures

Jack Quaid, the son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, shot to fame due to his star turn in the Amazon Prime Video series The Boys. This year, as his series winds to a close, he has finally become a legitimate leading man in film. In January, he appeared in the hit sci-fi thriller Companion. This Eid, fans can see him in the action-comedy film Novocaine.

In Novocaine, Quaid plays a man who cannot feel pain, using this superpower to go after the kidnappers of the girl of his dreams.

A Working Man

Jason Statham returns in A Working Man, a film about a construction worker who hides a violent past. Photo: Amazon
Jason Statham returns in A Working Man, a film about a construction worker who hides a violent past. Photo: Amazon

Jason Statham has become the modern equivalent of beloved 1980s action film stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris. His name alone can sell a film, regardless of the plot.

Last year, fans were treated to The Beekeeper, a rambunctious action film starring Statham and directed by David Ayer. The duo return this year with A Working Man, a film about a construction worker who hides his combat-trained past.

L2: Empuraan

L2: Empuraan stars Mohanlal in the sequel to the film Lucifer. Photo: Lyca Productions
L2: Empuraan stars Mohanlal in the sequel to the film Lucifer. Photo: Lyca Productions

This political thriller is a follow-up the record-breaking 2019 Malayalam film Lucifer. Superstar Mohanlal leads an ensemble star cast including Prithviraj Sukumaran (who returns as director), Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran and Manju Warrier, who reprise their roles in Lucifer.

Set in the high-stakes world of crime syndicates and political power plays, L2: Empuraan once again follows Mohanlal's crime lord Stephen Nedumpally as he seeks to expand his global empire while old enemies try to stop him. L2: Empuraan will screen in five languages: Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada.

Shabab El Bomb 2

Shabab El Bomb 2 is a Saudi comedy film that continues the story of a television show that started in 2012. Photo: Rotana Studios
Shabab El Bomb 2 is a Saudi comedy film that continues the story of a television show that started in 2012. Photo: Rotana Studios

The Saudi television series Shabab El Bomb is a smash hit with young people in the Gulf. Having started in 2012, the series moved to the big screen in 2024. Starring Faisal Al-Eisa, Mohammed Al-Dosari and Abdulaziz Al Furajiji, the second feature film is set for release this Eid.

The series, and the films, follow a group of friends who call themselves Shabab El Bomb, or “the bomb young men”, as they navigate everyday life, getting themselves out of ridiculous and comedic situations.

Absolution

Liam Neeson is an aging gangster hoping to reconcile with his children in Absolution. Photo: Sony Pictures
Liam Neeson is an aging gangster hoping to reconcile with his children in Absolution. Photo: Sony Pictures

Liam Neeson’s late-period action star phase continues. His newest film is Absolution, directed by Hans Petter Moland. In this film, Neeson plays an ageing gangster who hopes to reconnect with his distant children despite being told not to do so by his criminal crew.

Absolution also stars Daniel Diemer, Javier Molina, Jimmy Gonzales and Ron Perlman.

Night at The Zoo

Gabbi Kosmidis and David Harbour voice characters in Night at The Zoo. Photo: Strange Animals (Copperheart) Productions Inc
Gabbi Kosmidis and David Harbour voice characters in Night at The Zoo. Photo: Strange Animals (Copperheart) Productions Inc

Titled Night of the Zoopocalypse in some regions, this animated film features the voices of David Harbour, Gabbi Kosmidis, Bryn McAuley and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee. Directed by Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro, the film follows a wolf and a mountain lion who team up when a meteor unleashes a virus that turns zoo animals into zombies. The film is executive produced by Clive Barker who wrote and directed Hellraiser and wrote Candyman.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

THE BIO

Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 0

Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')

Lewis Hamilton in 2018

Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th

FIGHT%20CARD
%3Cp%3EAnthony%20Joshua%20v%20Otto%20Wallin%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDeontay%20Wilder%20v%20Joseph%20Parker%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDmitry%20Bivol%20v%20Lyndon%20Arthur%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20light%20heavyweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDaniel%20Dubois%20v%20Jarrell%20Miller%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFilip%20Hrgovic%20v%20Mark%20de%20Mori%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArslanbek%20Makhmudov%20v%20Agit%20Kabayel%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFrank%20Sanchez%20v%20Junior%20Fa%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20heavyweight%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJai%20Opetaia%20v%20Ellis%20Zorro%2C%2012%20rounds%2C%20cruiserweight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA

First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam

Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra

Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi

AndhaDhun

Director: Sriram Raghavan

Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan

Rating: 3.5/5

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Brave CF 27 fight card

Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)

Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)

Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)

Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)

Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)

Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)

Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)

Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bio

Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro

RESULTS

Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan

If you go...

Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.

A cheaper choice

Vanuatu: $130,000

Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.

Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.

Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.

Benefits:  No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.

MATCH DETAILS

Barcelona 0

Slavia Prague 0

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2-litre%204-cylinder%20petrol%20(V%20Class)%3B%20electric%20motor%20with%2060kW%20or%2090kW%20powerpack%20(EQV)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20233hp%20(V%20Class%2C%20best%20option)%3B%20204hp%20(EQV%2C%20best%20option)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20350Nm%20(V%20Class%2C%20best%20option)%3B%20TBA%20(EQV)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMid-2024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETBA%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UNpaid bills:

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019

USA – $1.055 billion

Brazil – $143 million

Argentina – $52 million

Mexico – $36 million

Iran – $27 million

Israel – $18 million

Venezuela – $17 million

Korea – $10 million

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019

USA – $2.38 billion

Brazil – $287 million

Spain – $110 million

France – $103 million

Ukraine – $100 million

 

The Farewell

Director: Lulu Wang

Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma

Four stars

SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000

On sale: now

Match info

Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace

Man of the match: Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace)

About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

MATCH INFO

 

Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)

Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no

Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)

Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9

Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH DETAILS

Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)

Genoa 1 (Kouame 40)

THE SPECS

Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 429hp

Torque: 520Nm​​​​​​​

Price: Dh360,200 (starting)

Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

UAE FIXTURES

October 18 – 7.30pm, UAE v Oman, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 19 – 7.30pm, UAE v Ireland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 21 – 2.10pm, UAE v Hong Kong, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 22 – 2.10pm, UAE v Jersey, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 24 – 10am, UAE v Nigeria, Abu Dhabi Cricket Oval 1
October 27 – 7.30pm, UAE v Canada, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

October 29 – 2.10pm, Playoff 1 – A2 v B3; 7.30pm, Playoff 2 – A3 v B2, at Dubai International Stadium.
October 30 – 2.10pm, Playoff 3 – A4 v Loser of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Playoff 4 – B4 v Loser of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium

November 1 – 2.10pm, Semifinal 1 – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Semifinal 2 – A1 v Winner of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 2 – 2.10pm, Third place Playoff – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Final, at Dubai International Stadium

SEMI-FINAL

Monterrey 1 

Funes Mori (14)

Liverpool 2

Keita (11), Firmino (90 1)

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

Gully Boy

Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi​​​​​​​
Rating: 4/5 stars

Updated: March 28, 2025, 2:54 PM