It has received universally good reviews, this from Film Journal International:
"The deserts of Jordan have rarely looked as beautiful or as dangerous as they do in Theeb, the assured feature debut by NajiAbu Nowar. A survival adventure with surprising depth, a coming-of-age story that hits painful emotions, and not incidentally a smart critique of Middle East politics, the movie has been winning praise and awards on the festival circuit, and was named Jordan's Oscar entry for Best Foreign-Language Film. But don't let its art-house aura deter you. Theeb is splendid entertainment, as exciting as it is thoughtful."The art house tag was also picked up by The Playlist:
“Theeb is an arthouse gem that celebrates world cinema through a Middle Eastern perspective, and as an unfamiliar approach to familiar themes, should be lauded and sought out by those in the mood for some serious, and seriously good, cinema.”However for damp locals feeling the after effects of storm Abigail, the comments from Vulture.com may be the most appealing: "these are not the sensuously undulating, lunar dunes of David Lean’s masterpiece; rather, the desert in Theeb feels intimate, rough, real. You can run your hands through the sand and feel the flies on your face."