ABU DHABI // Emiratis want to watch more films that portray their own culture, according to a joint study by Northwestern University in Qatar and the Doha Film Institute.
Last year the researchers interviewed more than 6,000 people in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and the UAE.
Eighty-one per cent of UAE respondents said they wanted to see more of their culture on the big screen, outpacing the regional average of 65 per cent.
The study revealed that UAE residents were the top movie patrons in the region, with 82 per cent listing cinema visits as one of their frequent activities.
Social media was deemed to be an important influence by 70 per cent of UAE respondents when it came to choosing what films to watch.
Residents of Saudi Arabia and the UAE are more likely to find all sources of information important when making choices about entertainment, while Tunisians and Egyptians believe they are less susceptible to influence.
While 79 per cent of respondents felt that more should be done to preserve cultural traditions, 70 per cent of respondents agreed that more should be done to integrate their respective cultures with modern society.
“These apparently contradictory findings reflect how the Arab world is coping with globalisation and still grappling to preserve local culture,” said Everette Dennis, the dean and chief executive of Northwestern University in Qatar.
“Understanding cultural attitudes around entertainment is as important to industry leaders and policymakers as viewership and other audience figures,” Dr Dennis said.
“This research provides a base of knowledge for executives across all sectors, including entertainment, sport, and children’s programming.”
It is hoped that the study can be used to better tailor content for specific markets.
Abdulaziz Al Khater, Doha Film Institute’s chief executive, said the study was the first of its kind in the region. “We believe that the findings will be of great benefit to all sectors of the entertainment industry, from both a commercial and cultural standpoint,” he said.
“What we see from these numbers is a growing demand for locally generated entertainment.
“The findings reinforce the idea that nurturing a thriving, creative industry in our region is vital to enabling the creation of content that accurately reflects Arab culture.”
ksinclair@thenational.ae
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Transmission: Six-speed automatic
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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