The Zayed University Middle East Film Festival began in 2010 as a student graduation project. It continues to be organized by a Zayed University class, which oversees all marketing, film evaluation, event organization, and other work.
The Emirates Film Competition began in 2001 and has become a component of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival as of 2008.
The Emirates Korean Film Festival began in 2011.
The Gulf Film Festival began in 2008.
The Heritage Film Festival, also known as the Emirati German Swiss Open Air Film Festival, is coordinated by the Goethe-Institut Gulf Region.
Tropfest Arabia claims to be the largest short-film festival in the world, and is an expansion on Australia's original Tropfest. The festival covers the Middle East and North Africa region and is open to Nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Tropfest Arabia began in 2011.
The Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) was previously known as the Middle East International Film Festival (MIEFF) until the name changed in 2010.
Since its beginning in 2007, it was held annually in October. The festival has been suspended since 2015.
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) began in 2004.
It is held annually in December.