Parts of Expo City Dubai to open to visitors from September 1 Fans of Expo 2020 Dubai will be able to visit some of the event’s key features and pavilions from September 1, a month ahead of the official reopening of the site as a business and entertainment hub. The Government of Dubai Media Office announced on Monday that two of the site’s most popular pavilions, Alif […] August 29, 2022
Chinese censors change ending of latest ‘Minions’ movie Censors have altered the ending of the animated film “Minions: The Rise of Gru” for its domestic release in China, social media users across the country noticed over the weekend. The editing is yet another example of Chinese authorities editing a Hollywood film to make sure on-screen criminals are punished – to the amusement or […] August 23, 2022
Anghami bets on Arabic music to deliver streaming growth Abu Dhabi-based streaming provider Anghami is betting on Arabic content to deliver future growth as it announced a 41 percent increase in subscribers in the first half of 2022. With just one percent of Anghami’s content being Arabic, it is one area that the company is looking to grow significantly, Elie Habib, chief technology officer […] August 17, 2022
Dubai record label launches as Arab music appeal grows Galaxy Racer (GXR), the media giant focused on e-sports, music and sports, has announced the launch of GXR Records, an independent music label based in Dubai. GXR and Empire, the global independent label, distributor and publisher, said the new venture will be led by Elia Mssawir and will focus on developing talents in West Asian […] August 1, 2022
How I got to the top Lifestyle Sonal Vara-Parmar, founder IAM Entertainment What does your company do? Based in Dubai, IAM works at the forefront of events and live shows across the Middle East, bringing together the biggest stars on the planet. What do you look for when hiring talent? We look for dynamic creators – innovative and versatile, trustworthy individuals willing to go the extra mile […] July 29, 2022
Arab music streaming service expands into live events Abu Dhabi-headquartered Arabic music streaming service Anghami has expanded into the live music sector through its acquisition of Dubai-headquartered events and concert organiser Spotlight Events. The partnership will bridge the online and offline sector, giving Anghami music fans opportunities to see their favourite acts live, access to exclusive private concerts, VIP lounges, artist meet-and-greets and […] July 4, 2022
‘Lightyear’ banned days after Disney streaming launch The UAE has banned the latest Disney animated blockbuster from showing in cinemas in the country, just days after the American entertainment giant launched its long-awaited streaming service across the region. The Media Regulatory Office, part of the UAE Ministry of Youth and Culture, said in a tweet on Monday that the “the animated film […] June 13, 2022
Tourists attracted to glitzy world of Real Housewives of Dubai The reality TV show is expected to lure 'undecided leisure tourists' to the UAE, though its first episode has sparked a backlash in Dubai June 6, 2022
Cinemark subscription surge hails post-pandemic cinema rebound Cinemark Holdings Inc has signed up 1 million paying subscribers to its Movie Club monthly subscription plan, the company said on Wednesday, hailing a rebound in moviegoing after disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic. The third-largest movie theater chain in the United States said it was the first cinema operator to cross the 1 million milestone […] June 1, 2022
Exclusive Interviews Make some noise for Anghami’s Elie Habib The Lebanese music streaming mogul talks to AGBI about the meteoric rise of his Nasdaq-listed company, its battles with music pirates, relocation to Abu Dhabi and his ambition to launch Arab music stars Elie Habib fell in love with coding early. He started selling software at the age of 17 and launched several companies in […] May 18, 2022
