'HOBA' is the first Arabic-language film to emerge from the Image Nation and Spooky Pictures partnership, a collaboration that brings Hollywood craftsmanship and Emirati storytelling together in a new way.
Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Spooky Pictures have partnered with Telfaz11 to bring the psychological horror-thriller HOBA to audiences throughout Saudi Arabia. Beginning November 27, moviegoers across the Kingdom can watch the Emirati film in cinemas.
Directed by Emirati filmmaker Majid Al Ansari, HOBA is the first Arabic-language production to emerge from the Spooky Pictures–Image Nation collaboration. Its theatrical release in Saudi Arabia represents a significant milestone for all three partners as they continue to elevate Arab storytelling and deliver bold regional and global narratives to local audiences.
The film has earned widespread praise for its emotional depth and psychological tension, further cementing Al Ansari’s status as one of the region’s foremost genre directors. With its performances, striking imagery and intense psychological atmosphere, HOBA is set to captivate viewers and highlight a new chapter for Arabic-language genre cinema.
In the UAE, audiences can still catch HOBA in theaters, where a special Eid Al Etihad promotion is available at select Vox Cinemas. To mark the 54th Eid Al Etihad, moviegoers can enjoy a 54% discount on tickets using the promo code HOBAUAE54, celebrating Emirati creativity while honoring the national occasion.
Set within an Emirati household, HOBA tells the haunting story of Amani (played by Emirati actress Bdoor Mohammed), whose life is upended when her husband introduces a second wife, Zahra (portrayed by Saudi artist and filmmaker Sarah Taibah). What begins as a domestic drama soon unravels into a chilling exploration of love, fear and survival, as an unseen force begins to take hold of their home. The cast also features Eman Tarik as Noor, Amani’s daughter and Jasem AlKharraz as Amani’s husband, Khalid.
Filmed entirely in Abu Dhabi with the support of twofour54, the production highlights the emirate’s filmmaking infrastructure and its growing reputation as a creative hub for international and regional cinema.
