Under the deal, Majid Al Futtaim Distribution will release Universal Pictures’ titles, including the M. Night Shyamalan thriller 'Knock at the Cabin'.
Majid Al Futtaim Distribution has signed a new distribution deal with Universal Pictures International (UPI), the international distribution arm of Universal Pictures.
Effective February 1, 2023, Universal movies will be released in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the GCC and Egypt by Majid Al Futtaim Distribution, one of the major film distributors in the region and a subsidiary of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas.
This new deal realigns the release of Universal Pictures International movies in the Middle East and will see Majid Al Futtaim release titles such as M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller Knock At The Cabin, Super Mario Bros movie, Renfield, Fast & Furious 10 and Trolls 3 to name a few next year.
The new deal with Majid Al Futtaim builds on Universal’s longstanding distribution partnership with distributor Four Star Films who will continue to release all Universal titles in Lebanon and Cyprus.
Commenting on the partnership, Paul Higginson, Executive Vice President, EMEA for Universal Pictures International, said: “This is a very exciting time for cinema in the Middle East with the investment and audience interest at unprecedented levels. We are thrilled to be partnering with Majid Al Futtaim, one of the most ambitious and forward-thinking groups in the region.”
Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas, added: “This strategic partnership reaffirms Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to deliver compelling content and the ultimate cinematic experience to cinemagoers in the region. We are proud to collaborate with Universal Pictures International (UPI), which has a long legacy of producing commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies. We look forward to bringing their impressive slate of blockbuster films and popular movie franchises to the big screen and working together to grow the Middle East’s cinema industry with films that attract a large and diverse audience.”
Niels Swinkels, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Universal Pictures International, stated: “We are delighted to continue our distribution partnership in Lebanon and Cyprus with Four Star Films, who have been our trusted and exemplary partner in the region for over 40 years. We are proud of and extremely thankful for the dedication and friendship of Hikmat and Elias Antypas and their teams and look forward to our ongoing, strong relationship.”
