Cinemas will have a new 21 rating that will remove the need for content to be edited, the Media Regulatory Office said. Victor Besa /The National
Cinemas will have a new 21 rating that will remove the need for content to be edited, the Media Regulatory Office said. Victor Besa /The National
Cinemas will have a new 21 rating that will remove the need for content to be edited, the Media Regulatory Office said. Victor Besa /The National
Cinemas will have a new 21 rating that will remove the need for content to be edited, the Media Regulatory Office said. Victor Besa /The National

UAE

UAE to stop editing films for adult content with introduction of 21 age rating

Media authority says it will make no changes to movies with mature themes

The National

December 19, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Films with adult content will no longer undergo editing or changes, following the introduction of a new 21 age rating in cinemas.

The Media Regulatory Office said screenings will be shown without editing in their original “international version".

Cinemas must adhere strictly to the new age rating, requiring proof of identification that a person is over 21.

Though most international releases are given the go ahead in the Emirates, it is common for films with adult themes to have certain scenes cut.

The highest age rating until now was 18, which relatively few releases come under.

Editing is largely reserved for cinema performances. Content shown on home streaming services and airline flight services is rarely edited.

In 2018, the government said there must be age ratings on a broader range of content, including books and video games.

Most stylish films of 2021 - our guide in pictures:

  • Starring as Patrizia Reggiani, Lady Gaga wore vintage Gucci in the film, House of Gucci. Photo: MGM
    Starring as Patrizia Reggiani, Lady Gaga wore vintage Gucci in the film, House of Gucci. Photo: MGM
  • Kirsten Stewart in 'Spencer', wearing a silver beaded, organza Chanel gown. Photo: Shoebox Films
    Kirsten Stewart in 'Spencer', wearing a silver beaded, organza Chanel gown. Photo: Shoebox Films
  • Emma Stone in 'Cruella'. Photo: Disney
    Emma Stone in 'Cruella'. Photo: Disney
  • Adam Driver and Lady Gaga star in 'House of Gucci'. Photo: MGM
    Adam Driver and Lady Gaga star in 'House of Gucci'. Photo: MGM
  • Nathalie Bayeuse and Lyna Khoudri star in 'Haute Couture', about the behind the scenes workers who create the worlds most exclusive clothes. Photo: UCG
    Nathalie Bayeuse and Lyna Khoudri star in 'Haute Couture', about the behind the scenes workers who create the worlds most exclusive clothes. Photo: UCG
  • Lady Gaga in 'House of Gucci', wearing vintage pieces from the house. Photo: MGM
    Lady Gaga in 'House of Gucci', wearing vintage pieces from the house. Photo: MGM
  • Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, wearing a vintage Chanel tweed coat. Photo: Shoebox Films
    Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, wearing a vintage Chanel tweed coat. Photo: Shoebox Films
  • Lady Gaga and Adam Driver star in 'House of Gucci'. Photo: MGM
    Lady Gaga and Adam Driver star in 'House of Gucci'. Photo: MGM
  • Emma Stone plays the young Cruella de Vil in 'Cruella'. Photo: Disney
    Emma Stone plays the young Cruella de Vil in 'Cruella'. Photo: Disney
  • Halston tells the story of the rise and fall of the American designer, played by Ewan McGregor. Photo: Netflix
    Halston tells the story of the rise and fall of the American designer, played by Ewan McGregor. Photo: Netflix
  • Halston (played by Ewan McGregor) tries an early design on Elsa Peretti (played by Rebecca Dayan). Photo: Netflix
    Halston (played by Ewan McGregor) tries an early design on Elsa Peretti (played by Rebecca Dayan). Photo: Netflix
Squad

Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas) 

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

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Rating: 3.5/5

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How to turn your property into a holiday home
  1. Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
  2. Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
  3. Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
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Updated: December 19, 2021, 11:59 AM