Bruno, the No 1 film in the US, inspired "shock, admiration, disgust, disbelief and appalled incredulity" among critics - and those were the positive reviews.
Now the UAE's censors are ready to review the film themselves - and decide whether local audiences get to see it at all.
That means that if the film is released in the Emirates - it made its debut elsewhere last weekend - it will probably face long delays.
The film topped the US box office last weekend, raking in US$30.4 million (Dh112m). It stars Sacha Baron Cohen as a flamboyant reporter for Austrian Gay TV and contains bad language and nudity.
Dubai-based Gulf Film, the largest movie exhibitor in the region, said it would distribute the comedy, if it was approved. Gulf Film's director of group operations, Jean Ramia, said the satire would probably not arrive in the UAE until late September at the earliest.
"If it's not going to be released in the next two weeks, then maybe during Eid, which is the best period for a blockbuster movie like this," Mr Ramia said. "There's nothing else to stop us from releasing it other than it passing through censorship."
The National Media Council, which previews content for movies before they open in the UAE, expects to view the prints for Bruno in the coming days.
Western critics who enjoyed the film also warned uninitiated viewers that Bruno plays on bad taste and contains lewd language as well as graphic nudity.
In a favourable review, the critic Roger Ebert wrote: "The needle on my internal Laugh Meter went haywire, bouncing among hilarity, appreciation, shock, admiration, disgust, disbelief and appalled incredulity."
Juma Alleem, the director of the NMC's censorship department in Dubai, said he was aware of the film's racy content but acknowledged that there was an audience for such comedy.
"We know about the story and we have no objection of this film if it's about the gay [community] or not, but we want to see the film and subject first," Mr Alleem said. "Some people are interested in this kind of film - comedy with some scenes like this. From our side, we have no idea about it until we see it."
He noted that other potentially sensitive films had been screened and approved, with some editing.
Ray Chacra, the managing director of the Dubai-based film distributor Shooting Stars, agreed.
"Usually, the censorship board are quite flexible. They just have to see the content."
Bruno follows the commercial success of the 2006 mockumentary Borat, which also starred Baron Cohen. It was banned in the UAE.
mkwong@thenational.ae
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
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Wallabies
Updated team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-Pete Samu, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lukhan Tui, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16-Folau Faingaa, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Izack Rodda, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')
Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')
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The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
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- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The view from The National
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Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million