The film «Sambusa Jabati», produced by «Vijeners», the largest platform for content management and development in the UAE comprising 21 companies and platforms, has achieved remarkable success in the history of Gulf cinema, breaking box office records. Since its release on August 14 in Gulf and Iraqi cinemas, the film has sold over 366,000 tickets, making it one of the most successful films in the Gulf region.
The film topped the box office in the UAE and Bahrain for two consecutive weeks, ranking in the «Top 10» in the history of Gulf cinema and maintaining its position in the «Top 10» in the Middle East region for a week. Furthermore, «Sambusa Jabati» became the highest-grossing film in Bahrain for 2025, selling over 100,000 tickets.
The film's record-breaking success led cinemas to continue showing it for 10 consecutive weeks. Following this triumph on the big screen, the film became available for streaming on small screens via the «Yango Play» platform starting October 23.
The film was directed by Jordanian Ahmed Jalboush and stars Bahraini Ahmed Shreef, Emirati Maree Al-Hulai, Bahraini Abdulrahman Saber, Saudi Ziad Al-Omari, and Egyptian Ahmed Fathi.
Dr. Younis Al-Kanizi, Head of Production at «Vijeners», confirmed that the success of «Sambusa Jabati» embodies the group's ambition to expand its operations, leveraging the creative expertise of Emirati talent capable of leading major production processes in line with the latest achievements in global cinema and renowned film studios.
He stated: «The record-breaking attendance for this film reflects the high quality of the film in all its aspects—production, direction, writing, and the creative performance of the actors who brought its story to life, as well as the success of its promotional and marketing plans in the Gulf and the Middle East.» He added that this major achievement for the group through this film marks a new beginning for its ambitions to diversify its fields and invest in the unlimited potential offered by the film industry to fulfill «Vijeners'» mission of making a positive impact on Arab and global audiences.
The film features adventures full of comedic paradoxes and a profound human dimension, serving as a call for cultural dialogue, love, and human coexistence through a powerful cinematic language, far from complexity and dry theorizing.
It is worth noting that the UAE's cinema sector achieved revenues of 8 billion dirhams last year. A total of 1,262 films were screened in the country, and 15 million tickets were sold.
The UAE's film market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.1% from 2024 to 2030, according to a report by the US market research company «Grand View Research». The report confirmed that this promising growth is driven by the increasing demand for cinematic content, advanced infrastructure, and a supportive investment environment that the country provides for this sector, reinforcing the UAE's position as a leading center for film production and entertainment.
On October 23, the film was released on the «Yango Play» platform following its significant success on the big screen.
