Be blown away by Dubai's best cinema experiences

Even a visit to the multiplex in Dubai can be a luxury experience, with plenty of the city’s cinemas offering ultra-comfortable options: reclining seats, pillows, blankets and at-seat food service. Reel Cinemas’ Platinum Suites at Dubai Mall boasts all of these, while Roxy Cinemas at Dubai Hills Mall offers three private “Director’s Boxes” as well as Platinum service. And Novo Cinemas provides a “7-star” experience at all three of its Dubai venues, also with reclining leather seats, at-seat butler service and a private lounge to enjoy before the film.

If your kid is a budding auteur, or already knows all the Best Picture Oscar winners from 1929 onwards, why not nurture this through groups and activities designed specifically for children? Milkshake Film Club is open for kids aged 9-17 and offers film-making courses, summer camps and more – with a focus on practical skills as well as an overall education in film and media. And Looking Glass Film Club curates screenings designed for children aged anywhere from three to 15, with regular showings at Cinema Akil and a festival at Jameel Arts Centre.

You might be surprised to hear you can experience some genuine Hollywood history in the heart of Dubai, but that’s exactly what the city’s Paramount Hotels provide. The two properties, both in Business Bay, are packed full of Tinseltown memorabilia, with all rooms themed around film-making equipment. And maybe best of all, the Paramount Hotel Dubai also offers an in-house cinema, with regular screenings from Paramount’s extensive catalogue including Grease, The Godfather, Transformers and more. You can also find private screening rooms at other hotels, including Rove Downtown and Raffles The Palm.

Get your arthouse film fix in Dubai through the city’s movie clubs, or one of the film festivals hosted in Dubai. The Culturist Film Club, run by Emirati artist Hind Mezaina, arranges semi-regular screenings of new independent films, niche cult masterpieces and other cinephile delights at venues including Jameel Arts Centre – with a lively discussion after each screening. Cinema Paradiso Dubai is from Mihai Sava, and shows an eclectic mix of films outdoors from autumn to spring. And the Meta Film Festival, held in November, will bring some of the latest independent cinema to Dubai through screenings at Wafi Mall.

If you’re seeing something on the big screen, why not go really big? Roxy Cinemas at Dubai Hills Mall offers the region’s largest screen, at a whopping 423 square metres, while Novo at IMG Worlds of Adventure has the city’s largest IMAX screen. There are plenty more IMAX cinemas across Dubai, with VOX and Reel also offering the huge screens. And for a more interactive experience, try 4DX cinema with motion seats and other effects – you’ll literally feel every moment of the latest blockbusters! VOX Cinemas offers Virgin Radio 4DX, while Reel Cinemas and Novo Cinemas both offer MX4D at various locations.

In the cooler months there are plenty of outdoor cinema options across Dubai, including permanent screens from VOX at Galleria Mall and Roxy at Galleria Al Barsha, regular outdoor showings at Cinema Akil and more – locations including Expo City Dubai, Wafi Mall, The Walk at JBR and more have all hosted alfresco movie nights. Have a look at our dedicated outdoor cinema article linked below, or keep an eye on Dubai Calendar and local listings for more outdoor screenings. (Note that, as with any outdoor event, weather can affect performances, so confirm any screening is going ahead on the day.)

You don’t have to choose between a delicious meal and a great film – in Dubai you can have both at once. At VOX Cinemas across Dubai the "TheEATre" experience offers gourmet items such as mushroom arancini, hoi sin duck rolls, hot dogs with truffle and brie, dulce de leche crepes and more. And Reel Dine In at Dubai Mall delivers diner-style dishes including deluxe burgers, salads, appetisers, desserts and beyond – all served while you're enjoying the movie.