Anthony Quinn in the English language version of The Message, which will be released in the UAE for the first time this Eid.
Anthony Quinn in the English language version of The Message, which will be released in the UAE for the first time this Eid.
Anthony Quinn in the English language version of The Message, which will be released in the UAE for the first time this Eid.
Anthony Quinn in the English language version of The Message, which will be released in the UAE for the first time this Eid.

More than four decades after it was banned, The Message is set for Eid release in UAE cinemas


  • English
  • Arabic

The Message, Moustapha Akkad's 1976 film that tells the story of the Prophet Mohammed will finally run in cinemas across the Middle East, 42 years after the movie first failed to secure a regional release due to religious objections and false rumours that the film depicted the Prophet Mohammed, in contravention of religious laws.

Mohammed's voice and image are actually not in the film, neither are his wives and daughters: the central characters are, instead, people who lived around him, including his uncle and his adopted son.

Akkad’s historical epic was, ambitiously, filmed simultaneously in Arabic and English with two entirely different casts. The English-language version starred Anthony Quinn and was Oscar-nominated. The Arabic language version, meanwhile saw Abdullah Gaith take on Quinn’s Hamza role, but to date has never been widely seen in cinemas in the Arab world, even though Akkad, himself a Muslim, consulted closely with clerics throughout the film’s production and won the support for his project from one of the region's most prestigious universities, Al Azhar in Cairo.

The film went through a fraught production process, with many of its backers, including the Kuwaiti government, pulling out when it was rejected by the Muslim World League in Saudi Arabia. The film was finally completed with funding from outside the region, as well as the governments of Morocco and Libya, who stood by Akkad’s project.

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The finished movie, however, attracted a fierce backlash and was banned in some territories in the Middle East, despite opening with the disclaimer: “The makers of this film honour the Islamic tradition which holds that the impersonation of the Prophet offends against the spirituality of his message. Therefore, the person of Mohammed will not be shown (or heard).”

A crowd scene from Moustapha Akkad's historical epic 'The Message'
A crowd scene from Moustapha Akkad's historical epic 'The Message'

Now, over four decades later, the movie is set to release widely in cinemas across the Middle East and North Africa, in a digitally restored 4k format that was created to mark the film's 40th anniversary, in both its English and Arabic versions, to celebrate the end of the holy month.

Gianluca Chakra, head of Front Row Filmed Entertainment, the distributor which is handling the release, commented: "[We] are proud to present the masterfully restored classic The Message in both Arabic and English, an undisputed cinematic landmark, to audiences this Eid. Profound and brilliantly acted, the film remains an entertaining, exquisite and compelling experience, as moving and relevant as it was on the day of its original release."

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

The specs
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Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”

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What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

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2) Take it to the US Embassy

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Started: May 2018

Founder: Arjun Mohan

Based: Dubai

Size: 23 employees 

Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital

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Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900