Saudi Arabia’s cinema industry is witnessing a booming demand for expansion as life returns to normal from COVID-19 and ease in restrictions invites viewers.
People enjoyed watching movies on the big screen and since entertainment is part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the sector has been witnessing tremendous growth on a steady basis. Cinema operators in the Kingdom are looking to expand significantly by opening theaters, both in major cities and in rural areas with rising demand for movie tickets across the country.
In 2018, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Information announced the end of the cinema ban after 35 years. Since then, a whole new industry has emerged, and a population of about 35 million people has embraced the new entertainment opportunities. To date, over 34 cinemas in 12 locations, totaling 342 screens and over 35,000 seats, are functioning at full capacity.
The integrated entertainment experience acts as a superior advantage with a premium visual resolution, outstanding sound clarity, and lavish surroundings. Tech-savvy Saudi moviegoers are always on the lookout for the most updated technology in theaters. This raises the quality of construction and fittings of cinemas to a higher level in order to reach the aspirations of viewers.
As part of its mission, Construction and Planning Co. Ltd, a leading Saudi construction and fit-out company that has been given the task of building a series of AMC Cinemas across Saudi Arabia, applies its signature high-quality standards to building premium cinemas that enhance the movie-watching experience.
One of the most noticeable aspects of this is the implementation of AMC Cinemas’ state-of-the-art prime experience, which blends stunning visuals and excellent acoustics, Dolby sound system, in the comfort of plush reclining spacious sittings.
The General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM), one of the regulatory bodies in charge of overseeing and operating cinemas, expects that there will be around 350 cinemas and 2,500 movie screens in the country by 2030, with an industry worth around $1 billion. Household entertainment spending is expected to rise from 3 percent of GDP in 2019 to 6 percent in 2030.
