Sayeed Muhammad
Saudi Arabia has said that public cinemas would be allowed in the conservative Kingdom for the first time in over 35 years, as the first ones would be opened in March.Cinemas were banned in the country in early 1980s following pressure from Islamists as Saudi society turned towards a restrictive form of Islam, discouraging public entertainment and mingling of men and women, reports Reuters.Under reforms led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi government is easing many of those restrictions, and planning to lift a ban on women driving next year.According to it, the country’s economy, hit hard by oil price fall, will benefit from the growth of an entertainment industry.Opening cinemas will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification, hoped Culture and Information Minister Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad. Through the development of the broader cultural sector, Saudi Arabia would be able to create more employment and facilitate training opportunities, as well as enrich the Kingdom’s entertainment options, he added.By 2030, KSA is expected to open over 300 cinemas with more than 2,000 screens, a government statement said, predicting the industry would contribute over $24 billion to the economy and create 30,000 permanent posts by then.Regional cinema chain operators are already said to be studying entry into Saudi Arabia, industry insiders said.A commission chaired by Alawwad will announce details of licensing and regulations in a few weeks.