Cinemas are expected to open in Saudi Arabia early next year for the first time in 35 years, following the Ministry of Culture and Information's move to issue licences for the operation of cinemas.

 

The approval for cinemas was accorded by the board of directors of General Commission for Audiovisual Media, chaired by Minister of Culture and Information Dr Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, said an Saudi Press Agency report.

 

Licensing is due to begin after the completion of regulations for the organization of audiovisual shows in public places within a period not exceeding 90 days, the report said.

 

The Ministry of Culture and Information said in a press statement that the General Commission for Audiovisual Media will begin preparing steps for executive procedures necessary to open cinemas in the Kingdom in its capacity as the regulator of this sector.

 

The ministry added that the contents of shows will be subject to censorship according to media policy standards of the kingdom, stressing that will be in line with values and principles in place and do not contradict with Sharia laws and moral values in the kingdom.

 

The ministry seeks to promote cultural and media works in the framework of its support for activities and events, hoping that this step will stimulate growth and economic diversification by developing the economy of the cultural and media sector as a whole, providing job opportunities in new areas for Saudi nationals, and educating and training them to acquire new skills, the report said.

 

The cinema sector will lead to a growth in the size of the media market and help in economic diversification by contributing more than SR90 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) and creating more than 30,000 permanent jobs and more than 130,000 temporary jobs by 2030, it said.