Saudi Arabia announces lifting ban on movie theatres

Saudi Arabia will have its first public cinemas in more than 35 years, after the government announced the lifting of ban on movie theatres. 

Minister of Culture and Information Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad in a statement said that opening cinemas will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification. 

He said, by developing the broader cultural sector, the country will create new employment and training opportunities, as well as enriching the Kingdom’s entertainment options.The government statement said that the licensing process for



cinema operators will start within 90 days and the films will be subject to censorship according to media policy standards of the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has been witnessing a series of reform in the past few months under the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, which includes giving women the right to drive and to attend soccer games. 

The oil-rich kingdom is also undergoing an economic overhaul to reduce its dependency on oil and to project the country as a more liberal and modern economy, which is also tourist friendly.