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.
Last year, the Disney movie Lightyear was not shown in the UAE.
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
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
Results
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m | Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Al Shamkhah, Royston Ffrench, Sandeep Jadhav
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m | Winner: Lavaspin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m | Winner: Kawasir, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m | Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m | Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m | Winner: Quartier Francais, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
SEMI-FINAL
Monterrey 1
Funes Mori (14)
Liverpool 2
Keita (11), Firmino (90 1)
