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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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Gulf

Saudi, Syrian FMs Discuss Efforts to Support Syria's Security, Economy

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi, Syrian FMs Discuss Efforts to Support Syria's Security, Economy

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani meet in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received in Riyadh on Monday his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani.

They reviewed fraternal relations between their two countries and discussed developments in Syria.

They also tackled ways to support Syria's security and economy in a manner that fulfills the aspirations of its people.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Reiterates Support for Sudan's Unity, Security

A general view of the Sudanese refugee camp in Goudrane, Wadi Fira, Chad, on January 31, 2026 near the city of Iriba. (AFP)
A general view of the Sudanese refugee camp in Goudrane, Wadi Fira, Chad, on January 31, 2026 near the city of Iriba. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia Reiterates Support for Sudan's Unity, Security

A general view of the Sudanese refugee camp in Goudrane, Wadi Fira, Chad, on January 31, 2026 near the city of Iriba. (AFP)
A general view of the Sudanese refugee camp in Goudrane, Wadi Fira, Chad, on January 31, 2026 near the city of Iriba. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia reiterated on Monday its unwavering support for the unity, security, and stability of Sudan, stressing the need to preserve its legitimate state institutions.

The Kingdom demanded that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) immediately cease their violations and adhere to their moral and humanitarian obligations. This includes ensuring the delivery of relief aid to those in need, in line with international humanitarian law and the Jeddah Declaration to Protect Civilians in Sudan, signed on May 11, 2023.

Saudi Arabia delivered its statement during the interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner for Human Rights' oral briefing regarding the situation in and around El-Fasher. The Kingdom's Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva participated in the session.

Delivering the statement, Permanent Representative Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila reiterated the Kingdom's "strong condemnation of the grave human rights violations committed during the RSF's attacks on El-Fasher."

He specifically highlighted "recent criminal attacks on health facilities, relief convoys, and civilian infrastructure, which have resulted in the deaths of dozens of displaced persons and unarmed civilians, including women and children."

Gulf

Saudi Arabia's KSrelief Inaugurates Maternity Clinic at Al-Awda Hospital in Central Gaza

KSrelief inaugurates the women's and maternity clinic at Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza on Monday. (SPA)
KSrelief inaugurates the women's and maternity clinic at Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia's KSrelief Inaugurates Maternity Clinic at Al-Awda Hospital in Central Gaza

KSrelief inaugurates the women's and maternity clinic at Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza on Monday. (SPA)
KSrelief inaugurates the women's and maternity clinic at Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) inaugurated on Monday the women's and maternity clinic at Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza.

Implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the project marks the completion of restoration and rehabilitation work following extensive damage sustained during the conflict with Israel, which had forced the facility to close.

The clinic's rehabilitation is part of a broader initiative to ensure access to essential services and promote maternal and newborn health among the affected population in Gaza.

The project targets the rehabilitation and support of women's and maternity departments in three major hospitals: Friends of the Patient Hospital, Al-Khair Hospital, and Al-Awda Hospital. It aims to improve the quality of reproductive health services and ensure pregnant and lactating women have access to safe healthcare.

The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts, through KSrelief, to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people and provide essential services amid the significant challenges facing the health sector in Gaza.