Riyadh: Arabian Centres, the largest operator of lifestyle destinations in Saudi Arabia, has announced it has signed an agreement with Muvi Cinemas, the first locally created cinema chain in the Kingdom, to open multiplexes at four of its destination malls by the end of 2019.
The first will be at the Mall of Arabia in Jeddah where a 15-screen complex is near completion prior to its planned opening in the coming weeks. It will be followed by cinemas opening at Nakheel Mall Dammam, the Mall of Dhahran, Al Hamra Mall in Riyadh and the new boulevard mall complex U-Walk that will open in the capital later this year.
Through 2020, Arabian Centres will continue to expand its partnership with Muvi Cinemas and launch in an additional 10 malls and will be bringing the movie experience to 8 Saudi cities over the next 24 months bringing the cinema experience to 250 screens.
The range of movie experiences available will include the ScreenX, Junior, Suites and bespoke Xperience.
Commenting on the formal partnership, Arabian Centres CEO Olivier Nougarou said: “As a local company with a deep understanding of the Saudi consumer, we are delighted to have a cinema chain partner who is also born out of the Kingdom and is equally committed to providing a bespoke and uniquely homegrown entertainment experience.
“We are shortly opening Muvi Cinemas first Cineplex at our flagship Jeddah mall – the Mall of Arabia – and following it with openings in the capital and Eastern Province as we continue to enable and enhance our lifestyle experience across the Kingdom.”
The cinema partnership with Muvi Cinemas is aligned with the Government’s Quality of Life Program within the broader Vision 2030 that is committed to the introduction of cinemas across the nation as part of a comprehensive range of entertainment, arts and cultural facilities.