Mohamed Attal
Dreaming Wildly, Filming Boldly A New Voice in Arab Cinema
By Afef Yousfi
In a world where storytelling is evolving faster than ever, Mohamed Attal (محمد عتال) stands out as a visionary Arab filmmaker reshaping digital content through authenticity, innovation, and cultural depth. Born and raised in Dubai, Attal’s creative journey has taken him from childhood poetry to high-impact films with millions of views. In an exclusive conversation with Magnav International Magazine, he shared the story behind his rise, the inspiration drawn from his homeland, and how he’s bringing the Arab world to global screens, one film at a time.
Born in the United Arab Emirates, Attal grew up in a household and society that valued education and knowledge. His early exposure to reading, writing, and poetry competitions at just 12 years old gave him a foundation in language and expression that naturally evolved into cinematic storytelling. He credits the UAE’s rapid development, and the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed, may he rest in peace, as pivotal in shaping both his creative vision and personal values. Inspired to give back to his community, Attal views film as a vehicle for sharing meaningful human messages and stories that inspire change.
A career-defining moment came with the launch of his viral hit, the fiveoneshow. The series, which brought together nine of the Arab world’s most recognized influencers, was a groundbreaking project released on social media platforms. Attal directed and starred in the show himself, a dual challenge he embraced fully. After over a year of planning, the show premiered with a red-carpet screening in Dubai and quickly went viral, amassing more than 100 million views within just 15 days of Ramadan. This success catapulted his name into the regional spotlight and marked him as a creative force to be reckoned with.
Building on that momentum, Attal continued pushing boundaries with his most recent cinematic project: a film about Jordan. Visually inspired by the epic tone of Dune and rooted in Arab history, the Jordan film was part of his well-received “Let’s Travel and Make a Film” series. It became his longest and most ambitious film to date, both in terms of production quality and emotional impact. With a sixth installment on the way, Attal shows no signs of slowing down. His goal? To raise the standard for Arab cinema in the digital space and present stories that combine cinematic scale with social media accessibility.
Attal’s vision has always been clear, build a respected name in the Arab world and then expand globally. He’s already taken the first steps in this direction by subtitling his films, a move that allows non-Arab audiences to connect with the deeper meanings of his work. His ultimate ambition is to be known as one of the leading filmmakers from the Arab world and bring its stories, cultures, and values to the international stage.
Much of his creative strength comes from growing up in Dubai, a city known for its unmatched cultural diversity. Exposure to various traditions, languages, and ways of life from a young age gave Attal a deep understanding of how to tell stories that resonate across borders. His films often touch on different civilizations and feature dialogues in multiple languages, a direct reflection of the multicultural society he was raised in.
He also praises the UAE’s role in nurturing the creative arts. For Attal, the UAE isn’t just keeping pace with global development, it is development. With media, marketing, and artistic campaigns gaining ground, the country has become a magnet for talent and opportunity. He believes the UAE’s media sector has created a unique ecosystem that allows creators like himself to thrive, share their work widely, and influence the regional and global scene.
Despite these opportunities, Attal is transparent about the challenges he continues to face, chief among them being funding and recognition. The film industry is an expensive one, and for young creatives, securing the financial resources needed to realize ambitious projects can be difficult. He also points to the underrepresentation of Arab cinema on the global stage as a pressing issue. But rather than letting this discourage him, he is more determined than ever to spotlight Arab stories and elevate the region’s filmmaking industry to the level it truly deserves.
As the interview concluded, Attal offered words of encouragement to creatives everywhere. He reminded aspiring filmmakers and dreamers to believe in themselves no matter what obstacles they face. To him, the most powerful tool anyone can possess is knowledge. “Keep learning every day,” he says. “Because knowledge has always been the fuel that powers our world. The more we learn, the more we grow, and the more our minds and souls thrive.”
Mohamed Attal is not just a filmmaker, he’s a cultural voice for the new Arab generation. His work bridges the past and future, the local and global, the poetic and the cinematic. With his bold vision, relentless drive, and unshakable belief in the power of stories, he’s well on his way to becoming a global name in cinema, one that proudly carries the essence of the Arab world.
Follow his journey on Instagram: @mohdatal
Watch his films on YouTube: youtube.com/@mohdatal
“Cinema is my way of giving back, it’s how I tell stories that inspire, educate, and reflect the soul of our Arab identity.”
— Mohamed Attal
“Growing up in Dubai taught me that creativity has no borders. I want to make films that speak to the world, without ever losing sight of where I come from.”
— Mohamed Attal