Film Assad to be released across Gulf countries this week

Rokeya Ayman Saad, Tuesday 19 May 2026

Following its release in Egypt on 14 May, the highly anticipated historical drama Assad (Lion), directed by Mohamed Diab and starring Mohamed Ramadan, is set to premiere across Gulf cinemas on 21 May.

Assad


The film will be released across cinemas in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman.

Ahead of the Gulf release, Mohamed Ramadan attended a special screening of the film at Vox Cinemas in Riyadh on Saturday, where he greeted Saudi audiences and walked the red carpet alongside members of the cast and crew.

He was joined by the film’s stars, including Razan Jamal and Ali Qassem, as well as director Mohamed Diab and co-writers Khaled and Sherine Diab.

Set in 19th-century Egypt, Assad tells the story of Assad, a slave with a fiercely independent and rebellious spirit. This historical drama focuses on Assad's journey after a forbidden love affair with a free woman ignites a confrontation with his masters.

The film itself is a product of Saudi backing: it was shot across several locations in the Kingdom, particularly in AlUla and Riyadh. Their involvement had the aim of achieving an authentic atmosphere on screen.

Also, the Big Time Fund, a Saudi-led General Entertainment Authority (GEA) initiative, is among the film's major producers. The Saudi involvement is designed to elevate Arabic language content to a global standard, and includes among its projects the Um Kulthoum biopic El-Set, which was released in 2025.

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