Bait Elowal Launches Cinema & Dining Experience in Sharjah

Bait Elowal, located in the Heart of Sharjah, has announced a unique ‘Cinema and Dining’ cultural experience in collaboration with Cinema Akil, supported by the Xposure International Photography Festival, celebrating visual storytelling through film and food.

The experience will take place every Friday and Saturday from January 16 to 31, offering curated film screenings paired with specially designed dining experiences. Set in the courtyard of Bait Elowal’s restored heritage house, the programme creates an intimate atmosphere where cinema, culture, and cuisine come together.

Each evening is designed as a complete sensory journey, allowing guests to engage with storytelling through place, memory, and carefully selected films, while enjoying meals inspired by the themes and origins of the screenings.

Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, founder of Bait Elowal, said the initiative reflects Sharjah’s vision of sharing heritage through contemporary experiences. She noted that Cinema and Dining creates a meaningful connection between visual culture and gastronomy, offering a holistic cultural exchange that blends imagery, taste, and sense of place.

Her Excellency Alya Al Suwaidi, Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, highlighted the importance of the collaboration with Xposure. She said the programme expands the language of visual storytelling by combining cinema with culinary arts, while supporting cultural dialogue and cross-cultural understanding.

The programme invites audiences to slow down, reflect, and connect as Cinema Akil presents films that explore regional narratives alongside global perspectives. Each dining experience is thoughtfully paired to echo the mood, themes, and cultural background of the films, creating a seamless journey from the first scene to the final course.

Butheina Kazim, founder of Cinema Akil, said both cinema and food have the power to evoke memory and emotion. She expressed pride in returning to Sharjah to collaborate with Bait Elowal and Xposure, bringing together storytelling, heritage, and hospitality in a shared cultural experience.

Film Screening Schedule

• January 16 – Homework (Abbas Kiarostami)

• January 17 – Tale of the Three Jewels (Michel Khleifi)

• January 23 – A Separation (Asghar Farhadi)

• January 24 – Taste of Cherry (Abbas Kiarostami)

• January 30 – The Experience (Abbas Kiarostami)

• January 31 – Capernaum (Nadine Labaki)

Bait Elowal is a heritage dining destination in the Heart of Sharjah, envisioned by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi. Housed in a more than 100-year-old restored building overlooking Sharjah Creek, it celebrates Emirati culture through food, architecture, and storytelling. Renovated in 2024, the space features a traditional courtyard with Moroccan Zellige tiles and serves a menu inspired by the Silk Road, highlighting flavors from Morocco, Persia, India, and Turkey using locally sourced ingredients.