Seven Arab films have been officially submitted in the run for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. The Oscars ceremony, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, February 28, 2021, will take place on Sunday, April 25, 2021, extending the date for Oscar-eligible films by two months. Here are the films listed so far:
1. '200 Metres' (Jordan)
Jordan on Wednesday announced its selection of Ameen Nayfeh's debut feature film 200 Metres as its official submission for the Oscars. Written and directed by Nayfeh, the film had originally received a development grant from the Jordan Film Fund and was later part of the Rawi Screenwriters Lab in Jordan. The film tells the story of a Palestinian family whose life is torn apart by the separation wall.
Since its world premiere at Venice Days in September, 200 Metres has received numerous awards including the BNL People's Choice Award at Venice Days, Best Actor award for Ali Suliman at Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, four awards at El Gouna Film Festival: Cinema for Humanity Prize, Fipresci International Critics Prize, Best Actor award, EDA Award for Nayfeh, and Best Director award at the 61st Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
"200 Metres tells the story of resilience and optimism in the face of man-made walls and barriers. Nayfeh handles every detail with beautiful understated nuance, humour and humanity. Rarely does a film succeed on every level like this, from Ali Suliman's absorbing performance to every character he meets on the road. With its superb writing and direction, this film will endure the test of time to become one of the great Arabic classics," said the selection committee, chaired by Jordanian director Amin Matalqa, in a statement.
This is Jordan's fourth film submission for the prestigious Academy Award. In 2015, Naji Abo Nowar's feature film Theeb was selected for nomination.
2. 'You Will Die at 20' (Sudan)
Earlier this week, Sudan made history when it announced its official nomination. Sudanese filmmaker Amjad Abu Alala's award-winning film You Will Die at 20 became the first film to be submitted to the Oscars in the country's history. The film tells the story of 19-year-old Muzamil, who the village holy man predicts will die after his 20th birthday. You Will Die at 20 has already won a number of awards since it first premiered in 2019, including the Grand Prix du Jury at the Amiens International Film Festival, the Luigi De Laurentiis Award at the Venice Film Festival and the Golden Star at El Gouna Film Festival in 2019.
3. 'Gaza Mon Amour' (Palestine)
Directed by twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser, Gaza Mon Amour will represent Palestine in the race for the Oscars. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September and later went to the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival where it won the Netpac award.
The romance, which stars Hiam Abbass and Salim Daw, tells the story of 60-year-old fisherman Issa, who is in love with Siham, a dressmaker at his local market. As he musters up the courage to propose, Issa discovers an ancient Greek statue of Apollo in his fishing net, which he then hides at home, in a tale inspired by a real-life story in 2013. The discovery soon upends life as he knows it.
Gaza Mon Amour will be the 13th film to represent Palestine at the Oscars, with two films previously selected for nominations: 2005's Paradise Now and 2013's Omar, both by acclaimed director Hany Abu-Assad.
4. 'Heliopolis' (Algeria)
Directed by Djaffar Gacem, Heliopolis is an Algerian drama based on the real-life events of May 8, 1945 in the city of Guelma, Algeria (called Heliopolis in ancient times) where French colonial forces attacked thousands of Algerians on the same day that the Europeans celebrated the end of the Second World War. May 8 is considered a day of mourning in Algeria, when the country remembers the massacre of 45,000 Algerians at the hands of the French army. The film, which tells the story of one Algerian family in the midst of those events, had a press screening earlier this month in Algeria.
Algeria will enter the international feature race with Heliopolis, with the hopes that it would get what is its first entry since Costa-Gavras's Z in 1970, which was also the first Arab film to win an Oscar. Z was a French-Algerian production that was submitted by Algeria – nominated for four awards and winning two. Since then, Algeria has had four films selected for nominations, three of which are by Algerian director Rachid Bouchareb.
5. 'The Man Who Sold His Skin' (Tunisia)
Kaouther Ben Hania's The Man Who Sold His Skin will represent Tunisia in the race to the Oscars. The film, which had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, won the Best Actor award for its Syrian-born newcomer Yahya Mahayni. It then had its Middle Eastern premiere at El Gouna Film Festival where it won the Best Arab Narrative Film award. Inspired by a real-life story, the film follows the story of a Syrian who, in order to try and reach Europe to be with the love of his life, accepts having his back tattooed by an artist. This isn't Ben Hania's first film to be submitted for the Oscars. In 2018, her film Beauty and the Dogs was submitted but not nominated.
5. 'Broken Keys' (Lebanon)
Lebanese director Jimmy Keyrouz's feature film Broken Keys has been officially selected as Lebanon's submission for the Oscars. The film was meant to premiere at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The film is based on a short by Keyrouz titled Nocturne in Black, which has won numerous awards including the Gold Medal for Best Narrative at the Student Academy Awards in 2016, the Bafta Student Film Award for Live Action in 2017 and a student award at the Directors Guild of America. It even made the long list for Live Action Short Films for the 89th Academy Awards.
The film tells the story of Karim, a young pianist who tries to escape his persecuted Middle Eastern town where modern ways of living and music have been banned by ISIS. Keyrouz also worked with Lebanese-French composer and Oscar winner Gabriel Yared (The English Patient) for the film's score. Throughout its history, Lebanon has had two films nominated for an Oscar – Ziad Doueiri's The Insult in 2017 and Nadine Labaki's Capernaum in 2018.
6. 'When We're Born' (Egypt)
Tamer Ezzat's When We're Born follows the stories of three characters in Egyptian society: a son who yearns to pursue a singing career against his father's will, a romantic Christian woman who is in love with a Muslim man, and a newly-wed personal trainer who must compromise his principles for a chance to own a gym. The film had its debut at El Gouna Film Festival last year. Despite this being Egypt's 35th submission since its first in 1958, the country has yet to have a film nominated for an Oscar.
7. 'The Unknown Saint' (Morocco)
Directed by Alaa Eddine Aljem, this Moroccan drama follows the story of a thief who buries a bag of money at the top of a hill in the desert, only to return years later to find it has become the shrine of an unknown saint. The Unknown Saint is the director's first feature film, which was shot in Morocco. The film was selected at the 58th Cannes Critics' Week in 2019. While Morocco has not had a film nominated for the Oscars, its 2011 submission Omar Killed Me by Roschdy Zem made the shortlist.
8. 'Scales' (Saudi Arabia)
Written and directed by Shahad Ameen, Scales is Saudi Arabia's fourth film to be submitted to the Academy Awards. Produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the black and white fantasy film explores the changing role of women in society through the allegorical, magical-realist tale of Hayat, a young girl who refuses to be sacrificed to mysterious sea creatures by her village. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival last year and won the best film in the Asian feature competition at the 2019 Singapore International Film Festival.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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.”
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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
