A magical first year at the movies as Saudi cinemas herald big screen revival

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John Travolta joins a discussion in Riyadh on the future of cinema in the Kingdom. (AFP)
Updated 20 April 2019
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A magical first year at the movies as Saudi cinemas herald big screen revival

  • Films are no longer ‘coming soon’ — there are now six cinemas in Riyadh and Jeddah, with many more on the way across the Kingdom

The seats have been filled, the popcorn bought and, for the past 12 months, the magic of the movies has been casting a spell over the Kingdom, where the buzz of the big screen had been a dim and distant memory. It has been a year since, as part of the country’s Vision 2030 program of reforms, Saudi Arabia lifted a 35-year ban on cinemas, paving the way for theater chains to unveil ambitious plans to open hundreds of cinemas, with thousands of screens, across the nation in the next decade. And moviegoers just cannot get enough of it, regularly packing out screenings at the first venues to open in Riyadh and Jeddah.

To mark the first anniversary, Arab News asked entertainment chiefs what they have learned from Saudi audiences since that historic first screening of Marvel’s “Black Panther” on April 18, 2018 at the AMC cinema in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.

Superhero fantasies, comedies and action dramas have proved most popular with audiences, who have flocked to a mix of global box-office hits and regional films.

VOX Cinemas — Saudi Arabia’s biggest movie operator, with plans to invest SR2billion ($533 million) to open 600 screens by 2023 — said it released 114 films across the Kingdom in the past year. The biggest money spinner was Marvel superhero movie “Captain Marvel,” which broke through the billion-dollar global box-office barrier this month — followed by “Cold Pursuit,” an American black-comedy action film starring Liam Neeson, and “Aquaman,” another superhero movie, this time based on a DC Comics character

Rounding out the top 10 list was M. Night Shyamalan’s fantasy-drama sequel “Glass,” Egyptian comedy “Nadi Elregal Elsary,” horror thriller “Us,” science fiction thriller “Alita: Battle Angel,” US superhero film “Shazam!”, Egyptian comedy “El Badla” and Hollywood comedy-drama “The Upside,” according to Cameron Mitchell, CEO of Majid Al-Futtaim Cinemas, of which VOX Cinemas is a subsidiary. “El Badla” had the distinction of being the longest-running film in the country over the past 12 months.

VOX Cinemas was granted its license to operate in the Kingdom in April last year and opened its first multiplex in Riyadh Park in the same month. It has four screens, including an IMAX screen and VOX Kids, the first dedicated children’s theater in the Middle East.

“Since launching Saudi Arabia’s first multiplex in April 2018, the Majid Al-Futtaim group has been delighted by the response from our guests in the Kingdom,” said Mitchell. “In the 12 months since obtaining our license, Majid Al-Futtaim has built five locations with a total of 47 screens, and is planning to open at least another 70 screens this year, on track to reaching our goal of 600 screens in Saudi Arabia by 2023.”

VOX now has three additional locations in Riyadh: a luxury cinema in Kingdom Tower, which opened this week; Al-Qasr Mall; and The Roof in Alyasmin District. This year the chain also opened the first multiplex in Jeddah, at Red Sea Mall.

“Our Saudi Arabian team is proving to be talented and passionate, and is offering a service level and entertainment experience comparable with the highest international standards, with particularly our VOX Kids and IMAX experiences delighting guests in Riyadh and Jeddah,” said Mitchell.

“We are honored to be supporting the 2030 Vision of Saudi Arabia, which noted that ‘culture and entertainment are indispensable to our quality of life,’ and our teams will continue to work tirelessly to meet our vision of creating great moments for everyone every day.”

Films are proving so popular that cinemagoers are having to book well in advance, and Mitchell said 95 percent of the tickets so far sold for Riyadh Park — which screened 82 films in 2018 — were booked online.

“We see this trend continuing with all new openings, as guests want to ensure they are securing seats,” he added.

VOX now has 39 screens and plans to open a further 110 by the end of the year. These will include the first multiplexes in the Eastern Region and Tabuk.

Collectively, VOX and another leading operator in the region, Carnival Cinemas, plan to open nearly 1,000 screens across the Kingdom, according to experts at the Cinema Build KSA Forum in Riyadh this month, which was organized to explore opportunities in the emerging sector.

“Carnival envisions operating about 300-plus screens over the next five years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Sunil Puthan Veettil, the company’s managing director. “Our mission is to take a good-quality movie-watching experience close to the people in the country. For this, we have made a study of all the provinces and identified several locations, subject to approval. Our idea is to move to all these provinces to set up entertainment centers and to make Carnival synonymous with cinema across the country.”

During the forum, Saudi officials estimated that by 2030, the number of cinemas in operation could be as high as 350, with as many as 2,500 screens. 

Cinema operating licenses have also been awarded to: AMC Theaters, an American chain owned and operated by Wanda Group; the Al-Rashed Empire Cinema Consortium, which plans to build 30 theaters in the country over the next three years; and Lux Entertainment, in partnership with Cinepolis, the biggest cineplex chain in Mexico, Al-Hokair Group for Tourism and Development, a Saudi-based hospitality and entertainment group, and Al Tayer Group, one of the leading companies in the field of retail operation in the UAE and the wider GCC. 

Lux announced in October plans for 300 screens in 15 cities across Saudi Arabia by 2030.

Other operators, including Gulf-based Novo Cinemas, which has announced it is in talks to roll out in Saudi Arabia, have also registered an interest.

John Sullivan, director of The Light Cinemas, a British independent chain, said it recently joined forces with new cinema brand Muvi to launch the Kingdom’s “very first all-Saudi Arabian cinema group,” which plans to open 15 locations across the country, including in Riyadh and Dammam.

“I think it is crucial for property owners in particular to understand their responsibility for figuring out what the cinema will deliver to their assets, and how to deliver that, rather than abdicate their responsibilities to others,” he said.

Regarding the investment opportunities that have opened up in the Kingdom, Sullivan added: “The market at the moment is emerging; we don’t know where it will go. I’ve opened cinemas now in 30 countries around the world and every single one of them is entirely different, so you will not know what’s happening in cinemas here for probably one to two years; then we will have a better understanding of the market.”

Gino Haddad, the managing director of Empire Cinemas, said that the potential Saudi market “is estimated to be almost as big as the whole (of the rest of the) Middle East.”

“So when the market opened up for cinemas, all the operators had full eyes on the Saudi market because it means big numbers,” he added. “We are estimating the market at least to be up to 2,000 screens, and we are very much interested in developing this market.

“We also want to focus on the educational side of cinema; we want to help bring up the new generation to understand and to live with cinema and perceive it not only as entertainment, but also as their future careers.”

The General Authority for Entertainment has indicated that SR267 billion is needed to build suitable infrastructure to serve the entertainment sector across the Kingdom, with expected investments in the sector expected to reach SR18 billion annually, according to a 2018 report from Flanders Investment and Trade.

This month, the Saudi government announced that SR131 billion will be invested in building cinemas and theaters, mainly in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

According to a study by PwC Middle East, a global advisory firm, the Kingdom’s cinema industry — which will serve a population of more than 32 million, the majority of whom are under the age of 30 — is expected to generate $1.5 billion in annual revenue by 2030.

“The world is witnessing Saudi Arabia’s confident steps toward an unprecedented era of social and economic reforms,” said Leila Masinaei, a managing partner at Great Minds Event Management, which staged the Cinema Build KSA Forum.

“The lifting of the cinema ban opens doors to untrodden ground for investments and lucrative revenue streams for the Kingdom.” 


Embracing the skies: Riyadh aviation show inspires next generation of pilots

Updated 23 November 2024
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Embracing the skies: Riyadh aviation show inspires next generation of pilots

  • Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation’s first female pilot wants more women to sign up

RIYADH: The Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation was among the top organizations at an aviation show that captivated the Kingdom’s capital with stunning aerobatic displays and an impressive lineup of aircraft.

Sand and Fun 2024, which concluded on Saturday at Thumamah Airport, showcased the Kingdom’s wide-ranging aviation sector.

The federation presented a collection of colorful hot air balloons to demonstrate the experience to adults and younger generations as part of the efforts to raise awareness about hot air ballooning and to inspire a new generation of pilots.

Sand and Fun 2024, which concluded on Saturday at Thumamah Airport, showcased the Kingdom’s wide-ranging aviation sector. (AN photo)

Among the pilots was Afrah Al-Harbi, the first female Saudi hot air balloon pilot to graduate from the federation.  

Al-Harbi is on a mission to cultivate a community of female pilots, encouraging women to explore the exhilarating world of hot air ballooning. Her story is an inspiring testament to the opportunities available to women in aviation and the importance of representation in this field.

“At the beginning, I was studying at the university, but the Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation launched a training program to train balloon pilots,” she told Arab News. “Thank God, I registered, and I was accepted. After that, I started my studies to become a balloon captain. The federation covered the entire mission, which is considered a grant from the federation. I obtained the European EASA license, and then I also obtained the Saudi license from the General Authority of Civil Aviation.”

The five-day event at Thumamah Airport gave visitors the opportunity to meet pilots, learn about the intricacies of ballooning. (Supplied/Aviation Club)

The federation offers structured programs to equip aspiring pilots with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.  

Hot air balloons first appeared in the Kingdom in AlUla as part of the Winter at Tantora Festival in 2018. This event not only showcased the beauty of ballooning, but also laid the groundwork for the establishment of the federation.

The hot air balloon sport is known and famous worldwide. We need a type of it that people can take part in within the Kingdom, especially for global competitions.

Abdulrahman Al-Wahaibi, Saudi hot air balloon pilot

The organization plays a crucial role in promoting balloon culture and raising awareness of the sport.

The five-day event at Thumamah Airport gave visitors the opportunity to meet pilots, learn about the intricacies of ballooning. (Supplied/Aviation Club)

“We want to show people that hot air ballooning is not only fun, but also safe,” Al-Harbi said, emphasizing the importance of public perception in the growth of the sport.

Her career has included a visit to the Netherlands, where she underwent extensive training.

“My studies in the Netherlands were quite lengthy, but it was an incredibly enriching experience,” she said. “The training included both theoretical subjects and practical sessions to help us obtain our licenses.”

Abdulrahman Al-Wahaibi, Saudi hot air balloon pilot. (AN photo)

The rigorous training not only prepared Al-Harbi for the technical aspects of flying, but also instilled a deep appreciation of the art of ballooning.

Abdulrahman Al-Wahaibi also spoke about his journey in the world of hot air ballooning, which began was he was a student in Australia.

“I looked at a balloon for the first time in my life and was fascinated by its shape,” he told Arab News. “I had to try the experience, so I did, as a passenger. The experience was beautiful, and I thought we needed this in Saudi Arabia. At that time, Saudi Arabia did not have hot air balloons.”

Among the pilots was Afrah Al-Harbi, the first female Saudi hot air balloon pilot to graduate from the federation. (AN photo)

Al-Wahaibi dedicated himself to bringing the ballooning experience back to Saudi Arabia, sharing it with family, friends, and the community.

This included studying aerospace engineering and breaking records in Australia for the fastest training period. He expressed pride in being part of the first Arab country to take part in international hot air balloon competitions, highlighting the significant strides made by the Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation.

“The hot air balloon sport is known and famous worldwide,” Al-Wahaibi said. “We need a type of it that people can take part in within the Kingdom, especially for global competitions.”

Sand and Fun 2024, which concluded on Saturday at Thumamah Airport, showcased the Kingdom’s wide-ranging aviation sector. (AN photo)

His vision aligns with the federation’s mission to broaden participation and elevate the sport on an international level.

Based in AlUla, the Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation plans festivals designed to integrate the natural environment and the grandeur of the historic landmarks of ancient civilizations such as Hegra.

The five-day event at Thumamah Airport gave visitors the opportunity to meet pilots, learn about the intricacies of ballooning, and even experience the thrill of a balloon ride.

With inspiring pilots such as Al-Harbi and Al-Wahaibi at the helm, the outlook for hot air ballooning in the years to come looks as bright as the skies adorned with colorful balloons.

 

 


Saudi ambassador presents credentials to Cypriot president

President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides receives Fawaz bin Abdulrahman Al-Shabili in Nicosia. (Supplied)
Updated 23 November 2024
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Saudi ambassador presents credentials to Cypriot president

  • Al-Shabili conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the president

NICOSIA: Saudi Ambassador to Cyprus Fawaz bin Abdulrahman Al-Shabili presented his credentials to the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in the capital Nicosia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Al-Shabili conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the president, as well as their wishes for steady progress and prosperity for Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Saudi Vice Minister of Commerce and CEO of the National Competitiveness Center Eman bint Habbas Al-Mutairi led a Saudi delegation of government officials and business leaders to the UK to bolster bilateral economic relations.

 


Saudi Arabia to host Qur’an contest in Nepal

More than 400 contestants from various Nepalese states and governorates will participate in the preliminary qualifiers. (SPA)
Updated 23 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia to host Qur’an contest in Nepal

  • The competition is part of Saudi Arabia’s endeavor to disseminate the teachings of the Qur’an among young Muslims around the world

RIYADH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance will hold the second Holy Qur’an Memorization Competition in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, on Dec. 21-22.

More than 400 contestants from various Nepalese states and governorates will participate in the preliminary qualifiers, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The competition is part of Saudi Arabia’s endeavor to disseminate the teachings of the Qur’an among young Muslims around the world.

The closing ceremony, which will include the presentation of awards to the winners, will be held on Dec. 23 and will be attended by officials from various centers and schools across Nepal.

 


Busy bees: Asir’s local markets abuzz over Sidr honey season

Updated 23 November 2024
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Busy bees: Asir’s local markets abuzz over Sidr honey season

  • Unique taste, aroma make it popular locally, internationally

RIYADH: The Asir region is currently in the midst of the Sidr honey season, with local markets flooded with high-quality honey produced from the nectar of Sidr trees.

The recent heavy rainfall in the region has led to a prolific flowering of Sidr trees, providing ideal conditions for bees to produce abundant and flavorful honey, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Sidr honey, which is renowned for its health benefits, is particularly prized for its antioxidant properties and ability to strengthen the immune system.

The unique taste and aroma of the honey have made it a sought-after commodity, both locally and internationally, the SPA reported.

Beekeepers in Tihama Asir have been busy harvesting the golden nectar, with prices ranging from SR350 to SR500 ($93-133) per kg.

The region’s diverse ecosystem, characterized by its fertile valleys and abundant flora, provides an optimal environment for beekeeping.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture is actively supporting the development of the beekeeping industry. Initiatives such as the beekeeping and honey production development initiative improve practices, protect bee populations, and enhance the quality of honey.

By promoting sustainable beekeeping and preserving the natural habitats of bees, the Kingdom seeks to strengthen its position as a leading producer of high-quality honey while contributing to the global market.


Saudi Reef Forum to focus on rural sustainability

Updated 23 November 2024
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Saudi Reef Forum to focus on rural sustainability

  • Al-Ahsa event to promote communities’ role in economic growth

RIYADH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture will host the 1st International Forum for Saudi Reef in Al-Ahsa from Dec. 16-18, aiming to strengthen rural communities, and promote their role in driving sustainable development.

Maha Aldhahi, head of the forum’s executive committee, said: “The forum is pivotal in advancing rural development, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030. It will support rural communities, while contributing to global efforts and research on sustainable agriculture.”

Aldhahi said that the forum will unite regional and international experts to address the challenge of rural-to-urban migration, a widespread issue. To counter this, the forum will propose practical solutions to ensure rural areas remain economically viable, vibrant, and sustainable.

Additionally, it will explore innovations in agriculture and rural development, fostering economic growth and social cohesion through job creation and investment promotion, she added.

Aldhahi said that the forum builds on the Saudi Reef Program, recognized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization as the world’s largest development initiative of its kind.

The program has supported over 77,000 agricultural projects, achieved a self-sufficiency rate exceeding 65 percent in vital sectors, and provided upskilling and career opportunities for rural communities.

Ghassan Bakri, secretary-general of the Saudi Reef Program, said: “The program is a model of sustainable growth, addressing food security and job creation while preserving cultural heritage. By hosting this forum, we aim to attract global partnerships and exchange cutting-edge solutions for rural empowerment.”

Bakri added that the forum will feature dynamic discussions on key topics, including sustainable agricultural practices, rural entrepreneurship, and the role of modern technology in agriculture.

The three-day event will also include an exhibition showcasing unique rural practices, handicrafts, and the work of local farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs. It will highlight how traditional techniques integrate with modern innovations to create sustainable livelihoods.