His Excellency the Minister of Culture and Information, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Commission for Audiovisual Media, Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, will inaugurate the Kingdom's first cinema on Wednesday evening, marking the historic reopening of cinemas after more than 35 years. The event will be attended by several officials, diplomats, specialists, and global and Arab experts in the film industry. Adam Aron, CEO of AMC Entertainment, the company responsible for regulating the cinema sector in the Kingdom, will also be present. The opening film will be the famous Hollywood movie Black Panther, produced in 2018.

Bader Alzahrani, the supervisor of the cinema sector at the General Commission for Audiovisual Media, stated that experts and those interested in cinema have been invited to attend the first trial screenings starting today, in preparation for the public opening next week. He noted that the Commission is working with relevant parties to provide a unique Hollywood-style experience in an exciting and enjoyable environment for Saudi individuals and families, with various options, including electronic ticket sales and other points of sale to be announced early on.

The Ministry of Culture and Information had previously announced the granting of the first license to operate a cinema to AMC Entertainment, a leading company in the field. AMC will operate cinemas across the Kingdom in partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which plans to invest up to SAR 10 billion in entertainment projects by 2030.

This decision is part of the Kingdom’s social and economic transformation program in line with Vision 2030, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Vision 2030 aims to increase annual Saudi spending on cultural and entertainment activities and provide multiple family entertainment options.

Economic analysts consider this move to open the door to a large local market that could reach $1 billion annually in box office sales. Several major operators are eager to enter the Saudi market, where young people under 30 represent the majority of the 32 million population, making the Kingdom the largest potential cinema market in the Gulf region.

In preparation for the initial screenings, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media approved and classified Black Panther after thorough procedures to ensure it is suitable for viewers aged 15 and above, in accordance with the newly established Saudi classification system.

The General Commission for Audiovisual Media, in cooperation with its partners, aims to provide an exceptional experience for attendees by creating the right atmosphere to ensure an enjoyable and positive impression for the viewers. Additionally, three more screens will be opened at the King Abdullah Financial District in the third quarter of 2018. This marks the beginning of a partnership that could result in the opening of 40 or more AMC cinema complexes across the Kingdom over the next five years. By 2030, there are plans for approximately 350 cinemas with more than 2,500 screens across the country.