• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Disney offered a 13-year-old $2 million to sing in ‘The Lion King.’ His mom took $100K plus royalties instead. He’s still getting paid 34 years later

2

Jeff Bezos says a 3-day workweek and more single-income households are on the way thanks to AI: ‘It’s going to be difficult to hire people’

3

‘Everybody knows you’re out of touch’: Palantir CEO Alex Karp says his own exec told him to stop hyping Foundry

1

Disney offered a 13-year-old $2 million to sing in ‘The Lion King.’ His mom took $100K plus royalties instead. He’s still getting paid 34 years later

2

Jeff Bezos says a 3-day workweek and more single-income households are on the way thanks to AI: ‘It’s going to be difficult to hire people’

3

‘Everybody knows you’re out of touch’: Palantir CEO Alex Karp says his own exec told him to stop hyping Foundry
Arts & EntertainmentFilm

AMC Just Won Saudi Arabia’s First Cinema License in 35 Years

By
Flora Carr
Flora Carr
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Flora Carr
Flora Carr
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 5, 2018, 8:10 AM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

AMC (AMC) announced on Wednesday that it has won the first cinema operating license in Saudi Arabia, as the conservative kingdom prepares to re-open its movie theatres following a 35-year ban.

The U.S.’s biggest movie theatre chain has signed an agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information, and plans to open roughly 30 cinemas in 15 cities in Saudi Arabia, according to an AMC statement. The first cinema will open on April 18 in the capital, Riyadh.

The move follows a wave of reforms spearheaded by the 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who hopes that reinvigorating the country’s entertainment industry will help boost the economy and reduce Saudi Arabia’s reliance on oil. The government estimates that the industry will contribute more than 90 billion riyals ($24 billion) to the national economy, while creating 30,000 jobs by 2030.

“Opening cinemas will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification,” the Minister of Culture and Information Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad said in December. “By developing the broader cultural sector we will create new employment and training opportunities, as well as enriching the Kingdom’s entertainment options.”

The kingdom had its first taste of Western cinema in January — although the choice of film was one of the worst releases in recent years. Movie goers at a makeshift tent in Jeddah were shown a screening of The Emoji Movie, which received a poor 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, despite the chosen film, the screening was thought to be symbolic of the new shift in Saudi policy.

By 2030, Saudi Arabia is expected to open more than 300 cinemas with over 2,000 screens, the government said in December.

About the Author
By Flora Carr
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Arts & Entertainment


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.