As part of a first phase, KNCC will launch 27 cinema screens by year end. KNCC commented that its aim is to open 12 multiplexes in the Kingdom within the next 36 months.
Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC) has secured three multiplexes in Saudi Arabia. The Kuwaiti company will aim to launch 27 cinema screens by Q4 2018 in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, as part of a first phase. KNCC is in talks with high-profile real estate entities to secure additional multiplexes as well as stand-alone cinemas across the country in accordance with the Kingdoms 2030 vision.
KNCC’s holding company Tamdeen Group operates two of Kuwaits largest malls and will contribute to the design of the new spaces in Saudi Arabia as well. Typically, multiplexes are run within malls in the GCC.
Speaking about their entry into Saudi Arabias cinema scene, KNCCs Hisham Al Ghanim said: There is a high influx of Saudi audiences that flock to Kuwait to experience cinema here because of the films we are able to show and the high standards of the sites themselves. We have a keen understanding and appreciation of their tastes and habits that will translate automatically to the cinemas we have secured over there and the expansion thereafter.
“This has been long in the making as we have traveled to and from the Kingdom to explore the development of cinemas. We expect to open a total 12 multiplexes in the next 36-month period.”
Gianluca Chakra, Managing Partner of Front Row Filmed Entertainment, one of KNCC’s partners, added: Along with these distribution lines, there is a potential to grow once the lay of the land has settled. Front Rows outside-the-box exhibition and distribution model can only help enhance the Saudi expansion. Added to that is the strong Egyptian catalogue and the burgeoning market of original content development we are working on together. With this, there is substantial potential for growth in KSA.
