Bahrain Cinema Company (Cineco), market leaders in the entertainment industry in Bahrain, and Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, have announced a joint venture which will operate and expand the current 8,000-sq-m cinema at Majid Al Futtaim’s City Centre Bahrain in Manama.

Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas is the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa.

The joint venture will be a 50:50 partnership and will be subject to a number of conditions, including the approval of the shareholders, a statement said.

The joint venture partners are reviewing plans to upgrade and extend the cinema, with the new entertainment Megaplex expected to boast countless points of difference, including a large 4DX cinema, and the exclusive cinema dining experience ThEATre by Rhodes, the brainchild of Michelin Star celebrity chef Gary Rhodes and the first-of-its-kind in Bahrain, along with other innovative movie experiences.

Ahmed Rashed, chief executive officer of Bahrain Cinema Company, said: “Since 2008 we have operated one of the highest performing cinemas in the world and are very excited to now partner with Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas to bring many additional benefits to our cinemagoers in the well-known City Centre Bahrain location.  

"We are confident that our new partnership will see the City Centre Bahrain location become one of the world’s most iconic entertainment destinations with the addition of new screens and countless new innovative and exclusive cinema experiences. Cineco has a history of pioneering new experiences in the Middle East, and we are delighted to work closely with Majid Al Futtaim on setting a new benchmark for entertainment for our guests,” he said.

Discussing the partnership, Cameron Mitchell, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim – VOX Cinemas, said: “Cineco has been a forerunner in the entertainment business in Qatar and Bahrain and is perfectly aligned with VOX Cinemas’ passion for innovation and entertainment excellence.  VOX Cinemas works tirelessly to meet our owner’s vision of ‘creating great moments for everyone every day’ and in partnership with Cineco we now have the opportunity to combine our expertise to continue creating memorable cinematic entertainment experiences for our customers in City Centre Bahrain.”

With 96 cinema screens in Qatar and Bahrain and almost 50 years’ experience, Bahrain Cinema Company has provided exceptional cinemas and experiences, offering the latest in technology and comfort to customers. Pairing this experience with Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas’ pioneering entertainment concepts, will see the VOX Cinemas brand operating 380 screens across eight countries before the end of 2017, doubling the company’s screen count in less than two years, and creating a world class chain of cinemas across the Mena region, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service