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Vox Cinemas to Operate Over 600 Screens in Saudi Arabia

First film screening in Saudi Arabia after lifting a 35-year ban (EPA)
First film screening in Saudi Arabia after lifting a 35-year ban (EPA)
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Vox Cinemas to Operate Over 600 Screens in Saudi Arabia

First film screening in Saudi Arabia after lifting a 35-year ban (EPA)
First film screening in Saudi Arabia after lifting a 35-year ban (EPA)

The region's most innovative and now largest cinema operator, Vox Cinema, announced that it has applied and obtained a license to run theaters in Saudi Arabia, announcing that it will be opening its first screen in the Saudi capital Riyadh in the next few days.

Owned by the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group, Vox Cinemas will invest about 2 billion riyals ($ 533 million) in Saudi Arabia over the next five years, opening and operating a total of 600 screenings in several shopping centers, including Riyadh Park and City Centre Ishbiliyah, Riyadh.

According to a statement by Vox Cinemas, Majid Al Futtaim will be the exclusive distributor of 20th Century Fox content to all Saudi cinemas.

Saudi Media Minister Dr. Awwad Al-Awwad, opened the first cinema screening in Saudi Arabia on Thursday evening, operated by the world's largest cinema operator and developer AMC Theatres, after nearly 35 years of complete cinema shutdown in the kingdom.

Cinema-goers can now catch “Black Panther” as of Friday after online ticket sales are open, CEO of AMC Theatres Adam Aron told Asharq Al-Awsat.

With the dashing return of cinema to Saudi Arabia, AMC Cinemas has announced a partnership with Noon.com to sell tickets online for initial screenings of “Black Panther,” the Marvel Studios production of the immensely popular comic book that marks the return theaters to the Kingdom on April 20.

There are two other halls that will open in the next three weeks, with an extra 450 seats, AMC screens will accommodate about 1,000 people.

On the other hand, three more showrooms will be opened at the King Abdullah Financial Center in the third quarter of 2018, marking the start of a partnership that could result in the opening of 40 or more AMC-run movie theaters in the Kingdom over the next five years.

About 350 cinemas, with more than 2,500 displays in the Kingdom, are planned by 2030.

The leisure and development company was established earlier this year by the Public Investment Fund to play an active role in the various entertainment sectors, as well as attracting strategic partnerships to build the business system in the sector in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, with a population of 32 million, a majority of which are under 30, is expected to be the largest market in the region for movie spectators. This decision is part of the social and economic transformation program in the Kingdom in accordance with Vision 2030 led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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Saudi Arabia Launches Medical Volunteering Program in Over 20 Specialties to Support Syria

 A Saudi delegation from KSrelief tours Syrian hospitals (SANA)
 A Saudi delegation from KSrelief tours Syrian hospitals (SANA)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Medical Volunteering Program in Over 20 Specialties to Support Syria

 A Saudi delegation from KSrelief tours Syrian hospitals (SANA)
 A Saudi delegation from KSrelief tours Syrian hospitals (SANA)

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has announced a call for Saudi medical professionals to volunteer their expertise to support Syria’s health sector, addressing urgent needs across more than 20 specialties. This initiative is part of the Saudi “Amal” (Hope) Volunteer Program, aimed at meeting the healthcare needs of crisis-affected countries.
The center invited specialists interested in volunteering to register for the year-long program, which seeks to provide emergency and medical services across various fields to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people through the contributions of medical volunteers.
Dr. Samer Al-Jutaili, KSrelief’s spokesperson, stated that the center’s external volunteering platform allows professionals to register in critical medical specialties to aid Syria’s health sector, particularly during this challenging humanitarian crisis.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Jutaili explained that the required specialties were determined in coordination with Syrian health authorities. He emphasized that the program aims to mobilize Saudi medical volunteers to address the health sector’s needs across all Syrian regions. He also praised the dedication of Saudi medical professionals, who have made significant international contributions through the program, supporting humanitarian efforts in 57 countries with over 200,000 operations across various specialties.
KSrelief announced that the “Amal” program was launched under the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in humanitarian efforts globally. The initiative seeks to deliver emergency and medical services to reduce human suffering and promote a dignified life with the participation of highly skilled Saudi volunteers.
In parallel with the volunteer program, Saudi Arabia continues its air and land relief operations for Syria. The sixth relief plane from KSrelief arrived in Damascus on Sunday, carrying food, medical supplies, and shelter materials to support the Syrian population during these challenging times.
Additionally, the first convoy of Saudi relief trucks crossed the Jordanian Jaber border on Sunday en route to Syria. The convoy included 60 trucks loaded with over 541 tons of food, medical supplies, and shelter materials as part of Saudi Arabia’s land relief initiative for Syria.
Al-Jutaili noted that the land bridge will complement efforts to distribute aid across Syrian territories, including heavy medical equipment such as MRI, X-ray, and CT scan machines that cannot be transported by air. He emphasized that the Saudi aid bridge to Damascus would ensure comprehensive coverage of Syria’s urgent needs, offering critical support to hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country.