Cinema Build KSA Forumgathers key entertainment project owners, government decision-makers, regional and international retail developers to explore opportunities in the entertainment sector.
The General Authority for Entertainment has indicated that the entertainment sector needs 267 billion SAR to build suitable infrastructure for entertainment across the Kingdom, with expected investments in the entertainment sector to reach 18 billion SAR annually, according to a 2018 report from Flanders Investment and Trade.
Vox Cinemas, a subsidiary of UAE based Majid Al Futtaim, was awarded the second license to open cinemas in the Kingdom. The company also plans to invest 2 billion SAR in 600 screens over the next five years, which Saudi officials estimate will bring the total number of cinemas in operation to as high as 350 and the number of screens to 2500 by 2030.
The first movie theater opened in Riyadh last year and about 30 movie theatres are to open in 15 cities around the Kingdom within five years. Moreover, the anticipating audience is expecting to see 300 cinemas with more than 2,000 screens around the Kingdom by 2030 and forecasts the sector to be worth around $1 billion over the next few years.
The Cinema Build KSA Forum in partnership with GCAM, the Forum’s Government Supporting Partner, gathered over 300 attendees and KSA potential market/stakeholders from 30 countries in addition to more than 25 exhibitors for 2 days. The sessions led by 25 prominent international speakers and industry experts, discussed investment opportunities, business collaborations and future partnerships, cinema industry competitiveness through design and innovative theming, redesigning existing entertainment hubs like shopping malls to embed cinemas, as ways to allocate complimentary attractions for maximum profitability, and material selection for different classes of cinemas.
Organized by Eyes of Cities in collaboration with Great Minds Event Management, Cinema Build KSA Forum has taken the initiative to lead the local cinema industry, brought together key stakeholders across the design, construction and technology sectors to discuss the latest trends and techniques of building world-class cinemas in KSA.
With the size of the population of more than 32 million, majority of whom are under the age of 30, Saudis spend about $30 billion annually on tourism and entertainment outside the Kingdom, which makes the argument to allow movie theatres open a domestic market expected to be worth up to $1 billion in annual box-office sales by 2030.
On the sidelines of Cinema Build KSA Forum, Sunil Puthan Veettil, Managing Director Carnival Cinemas said, “Carnival envisions to operate around 300 + screens over the next five years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our mission is to take the 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 all these provinces to set up entertainment centers and make Carnival synonymous with cinema across the country.”
Commenting on organizing Cinema Build KSA forum, Leila Masinaei, the Managing Partner at Great Minds Event Management said, “KSA’s cinema ban lift opens doors to untrodden grounds for investments and lucrative revenue streams for the Kingdom and the entertainment sector stakeholders. Consequently, Cinema Build KSA invites all stakeholders to explore the opportunities in the entertainment sector, as reports expecting at least 300 cinemas, in addition to numerous Family Entertainment Centers to be built by 2030.”
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector.
Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC).
She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book.
She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter.
Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler.
It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
