Dubai: Erotic-romance 'Fifty Shades of Grey', starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, has been banned in UAE owing to its intimate scenes.

National Media Council, the body tasked with approving films in the UAE, said the decision to withhold the release was taken after some serious deliberation during the review screening, reported Gulf News.

The film, adapted from EL James' best-selling novel of the same name, hit US theatres last week. Though panned by critics, the movie is proving to be triumphant at the US box-office with an USD 81.7 million opening through Sunday.