Message from Shaikh Ahmad

We were delighted to introduce to the Dubai landscape in 2004, a new cultural event celebrating excellence in the universally loved medium of filmed entertainment.

Film is an ideal tool for trying to enhance cross-cultural understanding around the world. This is the very purpose and theme of Dubai's film festival, which seeks to build new international cultural bridges at a time in world history when the need for bridge-building is ever more necessary and important.

Indeed, I hope that our festival can make a contribution, however small, towards promoting peace and understanding on the international stage.

Today, Dubai will be hosting its third festival and I invite everyone — both local film lovers and our distinguished guests from abroad — to experience Dubai's warm hospitality and enjoy some fascinating films while engaging in interesting and uplifting cross-cultural conversation with your fellow festival-goers.

I offer my sincere best wishes to everyone for a most memorable festival and an unforgettable stay in Dubai.