The Board of Directors for the General Commission of Audio Visual Media, which is chaired by Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al Awwad- the Minister of Culture and Information, approved the issuances of licenses for those interested in opening cinemas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The implementation of licensing will begin in no more than a three-month period in order to facilitate the completion of regulations for audiovisual public showings. The Ministry of Culture and Information issued a press statement iterating that the General Commission for Audiovisual Media will begin preparing the steps for the necessary procedures to open cinemas in the Kingdom within its capacity as the regulator of this sector.

The General Commission for Audiovisual Media has made great strides in studying the cinematic sector and preparing necessary executive frameworks to create an integrated cinematic experience not only on screens, but also in presenting a cultural and entertainment experience for the entire family.

The cinematic sector will have economic impact that will lead to an increase in the size of the media market, stimulate growth and economic diversification by contributing more than 24 billion USD to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and create more than 30,000 permanent jobs, as well as, more than 130,000 temporary jobs by 2030.

Further details on regulations and organizational frameworks will be announced in the coming period.