Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse withdrawn from UAE cinema listings

The next instalment of Sony's Spider-Man franchise has been removed from UAE cinema websites' sections listing future movie releases.

Vox Cinemas, Roxy Cinemas and Reel Cinemas all list which films are soon to be released, yet Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse no longer features on any of them.

The animation was scheduled for release on June 22. The cinema companies have been approached for comment but at the time of publishing had not responded.

The UAE media regulatory body has not said why the film is no longer listed on cinema websites.

In a statement on social media on Monday, the Emirates Media Council said that it would not permit the distribution of any content that breached the UAE’s values and principles.

The council's tweet read: “Disclaimer: The Emirates Media Council monitors and evaluates the media content circulating locally, and the council confirms that it will not allow the circulation or publication of content contrary to the values and principles of the UAE and the standards of media content in force in the country.”

As of this week, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has grossed $232.3 million in the US and Canada and $164.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide box office of $396.8 million.

At the time, the Media Regulatory Office said that the animated feature was denied licensing for public display in cinemas because its content broke national media content regulations.

The government office reminded people that all films screened in cinemas across the country are subject to follow-up and evaluation before the screening date to public.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – in pictures

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The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

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HIV on the rise in the region

A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.

New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.

Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.

Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.

Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.