The Ministry of Information and Culture reportedly gave the green light for the screening of The Passion of the Christ nationwide, sources told Gulf News.
An official from Al Massa Cinema said they are preparing for the premiere of the controversial movie. Critics have scorned Mel Gibson's film as a reckless display of gore while some Jewish leaders branded it anti-Semitic and historically inaccurate.
But people asked by Gulf News welcomed the authorities' move to screen it here.
Rami Tannir, a self-confessed movie junkie, said: "I've seen at least two other movies about Jesus' life. I've heard about this project in the making for the past three years. I'm just excited to see how Mel Gibson's vision appears on screen.
Screening 'Passion' here in the UAE is definitely a good thing." As for the movie's controversial theme, Tannir said: "I never found violence a problem when portrayed in movies because violence is part of our everyday lives."
Mona El Aswad, a flight attendant, said: "I won't be here to watch the movie on the opening day. But I can't wait to see it. My friends all over the place have been talking about it.
"The movie Jesus of Nazareth portrayed Jesus' life from the day he was born in Bethlehem to his cross in Golgotha. But I've heard 'Passion' specifically tackles just the last 12 hours.
"No matter how much violence is seen in the movie, an artistic portrayal is never enough because Jesus' Passion is really about love, and there's no greater love than a man dying for a friend."
Surprisingly, some Christians recoil at the thought of watching the film.
Christine, a hotel staff, said: "I don't think I can stand too much graphic portrayal of violence. It should just be left to the imagination."
A Filipino Catholic, who didn't want to be named, said: "I'm not sure, but it's the kind of movie I'd like to watch. But I don't like to be glued to the screen that shows too much blood. I don't have to see a movie to help me believe in the kind of suffering that Jesus went through."
Roger Whitting, a Briton and General Manager of Citytech, a security company said: "I'm not keen on seeing anything like that. Jesus Christ: Super Star was a well-done movie but at the end of it, it's gone a bit overboard. As children, we've been told about Jesus' life. But you don't want to see it on the screen in that detail."
Raffy Vartanian, an Orthodox Christian, said he will surely see it to check out what the 'hoo-ha' is all about. He said the sad part is that whenever there is something to do with religion, there will be people opposing it.
"Sure, life itself is gory," he said, when asked to comment on the gory nature the film. He said Gibson apparently sat with priests and rabbis to research the movie and the director's earlier movie Braveheart, though gory, has become a household video tape in Scotland.
Movies, unlike books, kill the fun of imagination. "The Passion is how Gibson sees the last few hours of Christ."
Natalie Teperdjian said she would love to see the film. She believed that movies are an art form and should be allowed to tackle any topic or issue.
"I've heard about the hype, both supporting the movie and the negative comments. It's a point of interpretation," she said.
