When Scottish filmmaker Kevin Macdonald first read Guantanamo Diaries, he couldn't see it as a movie. Mohamedou Ould Slahi's account of his imprisonment in the notorious US detainee camp, which was published in 2015, was a shocking read – it was written during his 14-year incarceration at Guantanamo Bay, where he was held without charge. Macdonald, whose body of work includes the Oscar-winning documentary One Day in September, was "fascinated", but unable to visualise it as a film.
However, when he spoke over Skype to Slahi at his home in Mauritania, everything changed. “That’s what made me want to make a film,” he says. “I was motivated by him and his character. Because I expected him to be very angry, embittered and vengeful. And he was not.” He discovered Slahi to be cultured, funny, sophisticated and “incredibly empathetic” above all else. “I thought this man is really interesting as a personality – I want to make a movie about that.”
The result is The Mauritanian, a harrowing account of Slahi's incarceration in the prison, where he was subjected to unimaginably cruel physical and mental torture. The film is in UAE cinemas from today, and is also being screened at the Berlin International Film Festival next week.
Slahi is played by French-Algerian actor Tahar Rahim, who is best known for his role in Jacques Audiard's A Prophet. He stars opposite Jodie Foster, who plays Nancy Hollander, the criminal defence lawyer who worked tirelessly on Slahi's behalf. Benedict Cumberbatch, whose production company SunnyMarch is behind the film, co-stars.
Slahi had initially been suspected of connections to a planned bombing of LAX airport in 2000, part of the so-called Millennium Plot, but as he repeatedly told interrogators, he had severed all ties with extremist group Al Qaeda in 1992. The film doesn't hold back in showing what Slahi endured – sleep deprivation, extreme noise, threats to his family, forced sexual assault; terrors that the late author John le Carre described as a "vision of hell, beyond Orwell, beyond Kafka", after reading the book.
Rahim, who has been nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance, wanted to make sure he conveyed this as convincingly as possible. “The only way I found to make it real is to, in a way, experience it,” he says. “I wanted real shackles, I want to be waterboarded for real, force-fed for real. I asked them to make the cell very cold. So I could feel exactly what Mohamedou has been through. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
I was motivated by him [Slahi] and his character. Because I expected him to be very angry, embittered and vengeful. And he was not.
Macdonald is quick to point out that the film has no human villain. "The system is the villain," he says. "I thought it was interesting in this era of great division to have a film that is not vilifying either side."
One of the key characters is Cumberbatch's Lt Col Stuart Couch, the Republican and Christian prosecuting lawyer who comes to realise Slahi's treatment is unconstitutional. "He was heroic in a way; he was the one who almost had to do more than Nancy did in order to stand up against the tide of what the government was trying to do."
Intriguingly, the film arrives at a crucial time – with increased calls to close Guantanamo Bay. At the end of last month, Slahi was one of six former Guantanamo detainees who wrote an open letter, published in the New York Review of Books, urging the newly sworn-in US President Joe Biden to close the prison for good. "President Bush opened it," they wrote. "President Obama promised to close it, but failed to do so. President Trump promised to keep it open. It is now your turn to shape your legacy with regards to Guantanamo."
Barack Obama’s campaign promise in 2008 to shut the facility was never realised. “Obama came into office, wanting to close Guantanamo, with all the right intentions, but found it incredibly difficult,” says Macdonald. “And then he had to make a decision. How much political capital do I want to spend on this issue? It wasn’t popular, even with the Democratic Party, his idea of closing the prison and distributing some of the detainees around American jails – his politicians did not really want these guys turning up in their jails.”
Macdonald wanted to show that Obama's administration was not entirely blameless in the fate of Slahi. In March 2010, a federal judge ruled that the US could not continue to detain Slahi, concluding that there was no credible evidence that he was part of Al Qaeda. And yet Slahi remained in prison for a further six and a half years, after the government opposed his release and filed an appeal in the DC Circuit. He was eventually freed in October 2016, after it was determined that he posed no significant threat to the US.
Shortly after Slahi’s release, Trump came to power, promising to keep Guantanamo open, and in 2018, signed an executive order to make good on that.
Even now 40 prisoners remain inside the detainee camp, and yet the signs are positive that Guantanamo will finally be closed. Recently, when asked at a press briefing if the prison would be closed by the time Biden leaves office, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: "That's certainly our goal and our intention."
Macdonald says: “I think Biden can close it, but of course, they’ve made a terrible rod for their own backs.” Of the 40 prisoners that remain, he says: “Some of those people, at least, are people responsible for really terrible terrorist attacks, but they have not been able to prosecute them, because most of the evidence that they have was gained under torture. So they’re in this terrible limbo.”
Certainly, it leaves the American government in a precarious position – and the hope is that a film like The Mauritanian will only add to the discourse over the coming months. The pressure is now on Biden to deliver, however difficult that may be. As Slahi and his co-authors note in their open letter: "We believe you can close Guantanamo before its looming twentieth anniversary."
The Mauritanian is in UAE cinemas today
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
ARM%20IPO%20DETAILS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShare%20price%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETarget%20raise%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%248%20billion%20to%20%2410%20billion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProjected%20valuation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2460%20billion%20to%20%2470%20billion%20(Source%3A%20Bloomberg)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELead%20underwriters%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Barclays%2C%20Goldman%20Sachs%20Group%2C%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20and%20Mizuho%20Financial%20Group%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Cashew%0D%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202020%0D%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Ibtissam%20Ouassif%20and%20Ammar%20Afif%0D%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%0D%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%2410m%0D%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Mashreq%2C%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE SQUAD
Khalid Essa, Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammad Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoon Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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
Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ashima%20Chibber%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rani%20Mukerji%2C%20Anirban%20Bhattacharya%20and%20Jim%20Sarbh%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
How Sputnik V works
match details
Wales v Hungary
Cardiff City Stadium, kick-off 11.45pm
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
RESULTS
5pm: Rated Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Abubakar Daud
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Tair, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner: Son Of Normandy, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
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
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
