New Emirati Film Follows the UAE’s First Female Astronaut into Space

Filming has officially begun on ‘The Desert Beyond,’ a female-led Emirati drama that takes viewers beyond Earth, and into the minds, hearts, and ambitions of the region’s first female astronaut. The story follows Maryam, a young engineer competing for a spot on the nation’s first female astronaut mission, as she navigates pressure, self-doubt, and legacy, ultimately discovering that personal and national growth often go hand in hand. Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker David Darg, known for ‘Body Team Twelve’ and ‘You Cannot Kill David Arquette,’ is at the helm, with the Dubai Films and Games Commission supporting production across the UAE. Expect sweeping desert vistas, futuristic ambition, and intimate storytelling all in one. Leading the charge behind the scenes are Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak of Naiy Production House and Carla DiBello of Arabia Plus, alongside producer Stephen Strachan of Globa 3. Together, they aim to prove that Arab stories can be global in scale, female-led, and unafraid to dream big. ‘The Desert Beyond’ represents a broader movement in regional cinema: telling local stories with international ambition and showing the world the women shaping the UAE’s future. Casting is now underway, with plans for a theatrical release followed by streaming distribution across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.