Saudi Cinema: MAF and CJ 4DPLEX make strides

Majid Al Futtaim Leisure and Entertainment, the FECs division of the MAF group in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has opened the first IMAX cinema in Saudi Arabia, following that country’s decision to reopen its society to movies. The move has also allowed CJ 4DPLEX to ink a deal for 4D locations.
Now MAF, the parent company of the Magic Planet chain of FECs, plans to open hundreds more screens in the Kingdom over the next five years. It was in fact the second cinema to open in Saudi, but the first IMAX unit, and it was opened by MAF subsidiary VOX Cinemas. The first of any type of cinema to open was on April 18 when AMC Entertainment Holdings of the US opened one in Riyadh in a converted concert hall.
The MAF location is at the recently opened Riyadh Park shopping mall. It has four screens and is surrounded by



shops and restaurants. The first movie was Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War and tickets were priced at US$13.30.
Now MAF, through VOX, plans to invest US$533m in Saudi to open 600 screens over five years.
Elsewhere in the Kingdom, CJ 4DPLEX has signed an agreement with operator Cinemacity to open three 4DX locations in Saudi Arabia.
The South Korean 4D cinema company has agreed a deal to open three 4DX locations in Riyadh and other major Saudi cities by the end of this year.
Al Qasr Mall will be the first multiplex in Riyadh, featuring 19 screens. It is expected to see 750,000 admissions during the first year of operation, the company added.
Cinemacity's parent company, Xclusive Cinemas, will operate 116 screens by the end of 2018 in five countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.