Princess Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud, the vice president of the Saudi Sports Authority was quoted saying: “This is a historic moment and I simply cannot fully express how elated I am as my son and I watch a movie in Saudi Arabia.”
In previous years residents had to travel to neighbouring countries such as Bahrain or Kuwait if they wanted to watch a film in the cinema, but luckily this is coming to an end now.
The Kingdom’s first cinema operating license was issued to AMC (American Multi-Cinema) , the largest theatre chain in the U.S. Dubai-based VOX Cinemas has in the meantime also acquired a license to start screening films in Saudi Arabia and are planning to open the first multiplex in Saudi.
Another three screens are expected to open by the third quarter of 2018 and a total of 350 cinemas, with a total of 2,500 screens, by 2030. This will make the kingdom the 11th largest theatrical exhibition market in the world and is speculated to generate $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) in annual box office receipts.
All the new cinemas will also create a lot of new job opportunities in the Kingdom. Approximately 30,000 permanent jobs and 130,000 temporary positions will be created by 2030.
Here are some of the moments captured of Saudi Arabia’s first public cinematic screening:
