Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Open Air Movie Extravaganza in UAE

The inaugural Hydra Open Air Cinema UAE ran 24 nights beginning November 10, 2008 -- first at Mina Al Salam Beach in Dubai (Nov. 10–21), then at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi (Dec. 1–12). The event was presented by Swiss-based company Swiss OpenAir Concept in partnership with Hydra Properties. A 4,000 sq ft screen with 32-speaker digital surround sound anchored each venue; nightly menus were prepared by Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai and the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

The programme mixed Bollywood, Arabic, and Hollywood titles for an anticipated 2,000 attendees per night. Dubai International Film Festival and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage supported the initiative as part of broader efforts to establish the UAE as a regional film industry hub.