Another cinema debuts in Saudi Arabia as social and economic reforms continue

 The first cinema has been inaugurated in Saudi Arabia’s eastern industrial city of Al Jubail as the kingdom boosts its entertainment industry amid dramatic social and economic reforms.

Municipality head of Al Jubail Naif Bin Faisal Wednesday evening inaugurated the cinema housed in Al Jubail Mall in the presence of several state officials, the Saudi news agency SPA reported.

The facility is part of the “Life quality” programme linked to the Saudi Vision 2030, an ambitious development scheme.

“Opening the cinema in Al Jubail is an important step to enhance life quality supported by Vision 2030 with the aim of improving the individual’s life pattern at different levels, including entertainment,” Bin Faisal said.

Manager of Al Jubail Mall Bandr Al Abdali, meanwhile, said that local citizens as well as expatriates are greatly interested in cinema.

With this cinema, the number of theatres in the kingdom raises 20, Saudi media reported.

Last week, a cinema was opened in Saudi Arabia’s north eastern governorate of Hafr Al Batin.

In April 2018, Saudi Arabia reopened cinemas for the first time in over 35 years, as part of the kingdom’s efforts to promote its entertainment activities and diversify its oil-dependent economy.