The documentary Shamshoun al-Arab: The Story of a Hero from the Emirates premieres in Dubai on Saturday, 31 October, at 6pm. The venue is Fox Cinema at Wafi Mall, and the film tells the life story of Ali bin Hassan, the Emirati strongman known across the Arab world as the Samson of the Arabs.
The red-carpet screening will be attended by the director, Nasser Al Dhaheri, and by Shamshoun al-Arab himself, now in his eighties.
Premiere details at a glance
- Film: Shamshoun al-Arab: The Story of a Hero from the Emirates
- Director: Nasser Al Dhaheri
- Running time: 70 minutes (produced in 2025)
- Date and time: Saturday, 31 October, 6pm
- Venue: Fox Cinema, Wafi Mall, Dubai
- Organiser: the Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, through its Al Owais Cinema Club
We have not been given ticketing or entry details. Check with the organiser or the cinema before you go, as a red-carpet event may have its own arrangements.
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Who is Shamshoun al-Arab?
Ali bin Hassan built his fame in the 1960s and 1970s, performing first in the emirates and then in cities across the Arab world. His shows looked almost impossible. Rocks were broken on his stomach and back, cars were driven over his hands and feet, and he pulled cars using only his hair.
He also lifted heavy weights with his teeth, at one point reportedly lifting a donkey, and he slept on broken glass.
You could not miss him. He had long hair, a thick beard and a leopard-print outfit wrapped in leather belts, and he looked like a comic-book hero. Lebanese and Egyptian magazines put him on their covers.
A name given by a king
The nickname came from royalty. King Hussein of Jordan called him Shamshoun al-Arab. Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser called him Shamshoun al-Jabbar, or Samson the Mighty.
He turned down the second title and kept the first. It became more than a stage name: by a decree from the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Shamshoun al-Arab is the name on his Emirates ID and passport.
What the documentary covers
Al Dhaheri’s film follows Ali bin Hassan’s life from the beginning to today. It includes interviews with the strongman and people close to him. The director has said he heard stories about Shamshoun al-Arab as a child and later followed his performances and press coverage.
The film presents him as an unofficial ambassador who carried the UAE’s name abroad in the country’s early years.
A long time coming
Al Dhaheri first spoke about the project in 2023. If you want to read more first, his life is also recorded in a 2019 book, Shamshoun al-Arab: Son of the Emirates, Ali bin Hassan by Hamdi Nasr, published by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage.
Why this story matters now
For many younger residents, Shamshoun al-Arab is a name heard from parents or grandparents, never seen in action. The documentary brings one of the UAE’s most colourful pre-union personalities back into view.
It arrives as the country puts more focus on its heritage, from the Sheikh Zayed Festival to the newly announced Zayed the Founder Day on 7 January.
If you want something different to do in Dubai this weekend, this is a rare chance to see a living legend on the red carpet.
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FAQs
When and where is the Shamshoun al-Arab documentary premiere?
It takes place on Saturday, 31 October, at 6pm at Fox Cinema, Wafi Mall, Dubai. The Al Owais Cinema Club, part of the Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, is organising it.
Who directed the film and how long is it?
Nasser Al Dhaheri directed it. It runs for 70 minutes and was produced in 2025.
Will Shamshoun al-Arab attend the premiere?
Yes. The red-carpet screening will be attended by the director and by Shamshoun al-Arab himself, who is now in his eighties.
Why is Ali bin Hassan called Shamshoun al-Arab?
King Hussein of Jordan gave him the name, meaning the Samson of the Arabs. A decree from the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum made it the name on his Emirates ID and passport.
