MUMBAI: Close on the heels of the Indian Films-Studio 18 released Welcome being declared as the No.2 box-office grosser in 2007 in the UK & Ireland, comes the news that Welcome is also the No.2 film of last year in the UAE, making it the biggest of the four Akshay Kumar releases last year.

While the film has grossed almost $1.1 million in the US and $1.8 million in the UK, the box-office in the UAE has grossed nearly $1.02 million with a 29-print start.

Apart from UAE, Welcome is in the charts of 'top grossers' in Mauritius, East/West Africa, Fiji and Singapore as well.

Says Gayathiri Batra, Region Head - UAE/Asia-Pacific, Studio 18, "Close on the heels of the smashing performance of the UK and other international markets, the stupendous box-office result of Welcome in the UAE is an indication that with the right marketing and product, there is incredible potential in this territory."

AT A GLANCE:

TOP 5 FILMS OF 2007 (UAE):

1. Om Shanti Om
2. Welcome
3. Taare Zameen Par
4. Partner
5. Bhool Bhulaiyaa

TOP 5 FILMS OF 2007 (UK):

1. Om Shanti Om
2. Welcome
3. Namastey London
4. Partner
5. Salaam-e-Ishq