The United Arab Emirates announced Sunday it will no longer censor cinematic releases, introducing a 21 and above age rating for films it classifies for mature audiences.
The UAE, which is made up of seven emirates, is considered
one of the more liberal countries in the Gulf region, where movies with adult
content are routinely cut or edited.
The wealthy federation has been continuously amending its
laws in recent years, presenting itself as a modernising force in a largely
conservative region.
The country’s Media Regulatory Office said on Twitter that
it had introduced a 21+ age category to its motion picture content rating
system.
“According to this classification, the international version
of movies will be shown in cinemas, with an emphasis on the strict following of
age classification standards for audience entry,” it added.
Late last year, the UAE revamped an array of laws in a
social liberalisation drive designed to burnish its progressive brand.
These included lifting a ban on unmarried couples living
together, loosening restrictions on alcohol, and offering long-term
residencies.
Earlier this month, the UAE announced it will move to a
Western-style Saturday-Sunday weekend, in what experts said was an attempt to
maintain its edge over rising regional competitors.
Starting on January 1, 2022, the Emirates will become the
only Gulf country not to observe weekends on a Friday, the Muslim day of
prayer, and Saturday.
Foreigners in the UAE make up 90 percent of the 10-million
population.
- - AFP