Doha Film Festival Showcases Seven Gulf Films
Cinema Alkhaleej, a dedicated programme at the 2026 festival, features seven films from across the Gulf region.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Middle East
The Doha Film Festival 2026 will present Cinema Alkhaleej, a programme of seven films from across the Gulf. The selection includes My Driver and I from Saudi Arabia, which won Best Feature Film at the 2025 Saudi Film Festival.
Why it matters
The programme gives audiences a regional view of Gulf filmmaking, spanning personal journeys and stories drawn from folklore and tradition. It highlights a range of voices from multiple countries in a single showcase.
The programme features seven films, including My Driver and I, which won Best Feature Film at the 2025 Saudi Film Festival. Commercial performance and audience figures for the selected films were not provided.
The players
Doha Film Festival
An annual film festival held in Doha, Qatar, that showcases independent and regional cinema from across the Arab world and beyond.
Ahd Kamel
A Saudi director whose feature film My Driver and I is included in the Cinema Alkhaleej programme.
The details
The selection includes Soulala from Saudi Arabia, directed by Hisham Fakih; Clouds from Oman, directed by Muzna Almusafer; Dunya's Day from Saudi Arabia, directed by Raed Alsemari; Namoos from the UAE, directed by Nada Jahed, which combines observational footage with reenactments; An Evening with Laila from Kuwait, directed by Haya Alghanim; and Salem Not Salem from Bahrain, directed by Omar Farooq.
Timeline
2025: My Driver and I wins Best Feature Film at the Saudi Film Festival.
2026: Doha Film Festival presents the Cinema Alkhaleej programme.
Travel Outlook
Gulf film showcases like Cinema Alkhaleej place Doha at the centre of regional cultural tourism during the festival season. The programme reflects the Doha Film Institute's ongoing emphasis on regional storytelling as a draw for visitors to the city.
Travelers interested in Gulf cinema can check the Doha Film Festival schedule for screening times and venues before booking. Advance booking may help secure seats for the Cinema Alkhaleej screenings.
The takeaway
Festivals like Doha Film Festival offer travellers a way to experience regional culture through film. Checking programme listings in advance can help visitors build a cultural itinerary around screenings.
Further reading
For more on the region, explore our Middle East travel coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BroadcastPro ME.
