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LONDON: Production on an Emirati feature film based on the UAE’s space program is about to begin in Dubai, with filming due to take place in the city and across the country.

“The Desert Beyond” is a described as 90-minute, female-led drama that tells a fictionalized story of the first female astronaut from the Arab world. Producers say it is inspired by the UAE’s space program, which began in 2014, and its vision for the empowerment of women in science and innovation.

The film, which is supported by the Dubai Film and Games Commission, will be directed by David Darg, an Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker. It is being executive produced by Rasha Khalifa Al-Mubarak of Naiy Production House, an Emirati company dedicated to socially driven storytelling, and produced by Carla DiBello of Arabia Plus, a production company based in the UAE that focuses on sharing regional stories with the world.

A particular inspiration for “The Desert Beyond” is the professional journey of Nora Al-Matrooshi, who was selected for a place among the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Program in 2021, then joined the NASA Astronaut Candidate Class training program, from which she graduated in 2024.

The film tells the story of Maryam, a young Emirati engineer who faces the pressure of national expectations, overcomes personal doubts, and finds strength in the past as she deals with her family’s legacy, all while competing for a place on a space mission as the nation’s first female astronaut.

“A story like this has never been told on screen,” said DiBello. “We’re bringing a female-driven story from the Arab world to a global audience, one that shows women not only breaking barriers, but defining what leadership and growth look like in the Middle East today.”

Al-Mubarak added: “This film celebrates transformation: personal, national and generational. It’s about honoring our heritage as we take bold steps toward the future.”

Casting for the film will begin soon, the producers said. Capstone Pictures will manage global sales, with Front Row Filmed Entertainment handling distribution in the Middle East and North Africa.

Nehal Badri, secretary-general of the Dubai Media Council, said: “The Dubai Films and Games Commission’s support for the project reflects our mission to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for media innovation.

“We are equally committed to enabling the film industry, and the broader media sector, to share stories about the UAE’s pioneering spirit that continue to inspire new generations to shape a brighter future.”

The UAE Space Agency was established in 2014. It launched the Emirates Mars Mission in 2020, and sent astronauts Hazza Al-Mansoori and Sultan Al-Neyadi to the International Space Station in 2019 and 2023 respectively.