Dubai: A new feature film inspired by the UAE’s remarkable rise in space exploration is set to commence production. The Desert Beyond is a female-led drama centred on a fictional story of the Arab world’s first female astronaut, capturing the nation’s pioneering journey into space and its vision to empower women in science and innovation.
According to Emirates News Agency, Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker David Darg will direct the 90-minute drama, which will be filmed in Dubai and across the UAE. The film is supported by the Dubai Films and Games Commission.
A fusion of emotional drama and aspirational space narrative, The Desert Beyond follows Maryam, a young Emirati engineer competing for the nation’s first female astronaut mission. As she goes through a rigorous selection process, Maryam confronts national expectations, inner doubt, and her family’s legacy, ultimately discovering that the strength to move forward may lie in the wisdom of the past.
The film is executive produced by Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, founder of Naiy Production House, an Emirati company focused on socially driven storytelling. It is produced by Carla DiBello, founder of Arabia Plus, a UAE-based production company set up to tell regional stories for an international market which has already been producing documentaries and narrative shorts throughout the Middle East. DiBello is joined by award-winning producer Stephen Strachan under his company Globa 3.
Nehal Badri, Secretary-General of the Dubai Media Council, stated that the support for the project by the Dubai Films and Games Commission aligns with their mission to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for media innovation. It also reflects efforts to foster international collaboration, nurture industry talent, and showcase Dubai’s capabilities as a world-class ecosystem for media and film production.
Executive Producer Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak mentioned that The Desert Beyond was inspired by the extraordinary efforts of the UAE’s space programme and figures like Nora Al Matrooshi, the first Emirati female astronaut. The film celebrates transformation, both personal and national, and honors heritage while taking bold steps toward the future.
Producer Carla DiBello highlighted the significance of bringing a female-driven story from the Arab world to a global audience, showcasing women breaking barriers and redefining leadership and growth in the Middle East.
Since the establishment of the UAE Space Agency in 2014, the nation has launched the Emirates Mars Mission, sent astronauts to the International Space Station, and celebrated Nora Al Matrooshi as the Arab world’s first female astronaut, milestones echoed in the film.
The Desert Beyond is set to begin casting shortly. Capstone Pictures is handling worldwide sales, while Front Row Filmed Entertainment will oversee distribution across the Middle East and North Africa. A theatrical release is planned, followed by international streaming distribution.