UAE to stop censoring films over adult content with introduction of 21 age rating

Films showing adult content will no longer undergo editing in order to be screened in the UAE, the country's Media Regulatory Office announced on Sunday.

This follows the introduction of a new 21 age rating, up from the existing 18 age rating. Cinemas will now require proof of age before letting people into a screening rated "age 21", where they will be able to watch unedited international movies.

To the despair of many viewers, international films screened in the Emirates were commonly edited to cut out scenes considered to be "adults only". This practice was mostly applied in cinemas, although airline films or those for private screenings were occasionally censored as well.

In 2018, the Emirati government said it wanted to see ratings on a broader range of content, including books and video games.

The UAE is also known to censor productions and online content for political reasons.

In 2020, the country was listed among five other MENA nations that censor online conversations by blocking access to social media apps and communication platforms.