Not yet a Barbie world: Film’s release pushed back in Egypt, UAE

The new 'Barbie' film has broken records during its opening weekend, but Egypt and the UAE will have to wait weeks more to see it in cinemas.

The Greta Gerwig-directed blockbuster is set for release at some cinemas in the two countries on 31 August, according to local media reports. Some Emirati cinema listings simply said that the film was "coming soon". 

'Barbie' was initially set for release in Egypt on 19 July, and in the UAE a day after.

The reasons for the delayed release of the film in both countries are as yet unclear.

The UAE seemed primed and ready for the film’s release. The Gulf state is currently home to one of the biggest marketing stunts for the movie, with a gigantic CGI advert for it currently standing outside Dubai’s Burj Khalifa skyscraper.

The film and its star-studded cast scored a massive opening box office weekend, raking in almost $400 million globally.

It was the biggest-ever opening weekend for a film directed by a woman.

Though widely praised for its humour, quick wit and embrace of female empowerment, the film has ruffled the feathers of some viewers, who have called it "bizarre" and "anti-man".

'Barbie''s release was halted in Pakistan over unspecified "objectionable content".

It was banned in Vietnam over its apparent inclusion of a controversial marking in a map of the South China Sea.

Egypt, the UAE and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa region have previously banned Hollywood films on the grounds of promoting LGBTQ+ content.