Saudi Tourism Authority | Off Screen | Cinema Campaign

Saudi Tourism recently booked two off screen cinema advertising campaigns – through PHD, across the Motivate Val Morgan regional circuit.

 

The first wave of the campaign commenced in December 2021 across multiple VOX Cinema locations in UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall in UAE. The second wave commenced in February 2022 across multiple Muvi, AMC and VOX cinema locations, and Cinépolis –Jameah Plaza in Saudi Arabia.

 

The campaign covered a variety of digital screens across the cinemas, which included digital pillars, hero screens, entrance lightboxes and main trailer screens.

 

 

Also check out the Saudi Tourism Authority on screen cinema ad booked through Motivate Val Morgan in 2021.

 

 

Integrated cinema campaigns provide greater brand visibility and enable brands to target cinemagoers across multiple touchpoints.

 

Contact us for more information on integrated cinema campaigns across our cinema circuit.

 

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Be Part of The Big Screen This Valentine’s Day

Over the year,Valentine’s Day – also known as Saint Valentine’s Day celebrated annually on 14 February, has evolved from its romantic roots. While roses, chocolates and luxury jewellery are still popular gift ideas, people are now starting to celebrate Valentine’s Day with more than just their significant others. Whether it’s family, friends, or even coworkers, everyone enjoys this themed day.

Below are the blockbusters hitting the BIG Screen in time for Valentine’s Day 2022:

Death on the Nile

Release Date: 10 February 2022
Starring: Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Kenneth Barnagh
Language: English

 

Marry Me

Release Date: 10 February 2022
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Utkarsh Ambudkar
Language: English

 

Uncharted

Release Date: 10 February 2022
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Tom Holland, Tati Gabrielle
Language: English

 

Hamel El Lakab

Release Date: 10 February 2022
Starring: Hesham Maged, Mohamed Tharwat, Ahmed Fathi, Mohamed Sallam, Dina El Sherbiny, Ezz El Arab, Donia Maher
Language: Arabic

 

Badhaai Do

Release Date: 11 February 2022
Starring: Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar
Language: Hindi

 

Lochya Zaala Re

Release Date: 10 February 2022
Starring: Ankush Chaudhari, Siddharth Jadhav, Vaidehi Parshurami
Language: Marathi

 

Whether you are a jewellery, perfume, hotel/restaurant, or chocolate brand wanting to take advantage of catering to the ‘love’ aspect of Valentine’s Day, a brand launching a new product that could be an ideal Valentine’s Day gift, or promoting a special offer during the season of love, cinema advertising presents advertisers with opportunities to target attentive audiences who are open to inspiration.

Here are five 2022 Valentine’s Day ads we picked from around the world as examples:

Teleflora
Campaign: #LoveOutLoud
Published/Aired: January 2022

 

Fossil|
Campaign: #OneofaKind
Published/Aired: January 2022

 

Toblerone Philippines
Campaign: #majorkilig
Published/Aired: January 2022

 

thortful
Campaign: #LoveLanguage
Published/Aired: January 2022

 

Cadbury India
Campaign: #5StarVDayAlibi
Published/Aired: January 2022

 

And some example ads booked through Motivate Val Morgan, promoting the essence of love and togetherness/a product ideal for gifting this Valentine’s Day:

Damas

 

Liali

 

Cartier

 

Godiva

 

Narciso Rodriguez

 

Don’t miss out on advertising your brand on the BIG SCREEN this Valentine’s Day!

Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities.

LIONS: See It Be It 2022 – Applications Now Open

See It Be It announces applications open for the 2022 programme

Five places are available for creative female talent to join the 2020/2021 cohort

This year’s See It Be It accelerator programme will take place at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity from 20-24 June 2022

 

Cannes Lions has announced that applications are open for the 2022 See It Be It programme, which aims to support creative female talent from across the global industry and accelerate them into senior creative roles.

 

Five places are available for female industry talent, from across the world, to join the 15 women already selected for the 2020/21 cohort. Together, they will take part in a unique development experience at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June, receiving an all-access Festival pass, travel to and from Cannes, and accommodation, courtesy of the Festival, the group will attend an exclusive programme of events, workshops and mentoring with some of the most respected leaders in the industry today. To date, over 100 women have taken part in See It Be It, and many alumni have progressed into leadership positions, won Lions awards and become Cannes Lions jurors.

 

The See It Be It Ambassador for 2022 will be Swati Bhattacharya, Chief Creative Officer, FCB India, who will guide the participants through the programme, alongside the See It Be It Chair: Madonna Badger, CCO and Founder, Badger & Winters.

 

Swati Bhattacharya commented: “The most important element of See It Be It, is bringing the brightest women together and supporting them to take the lead in their career, to shine brighter, and to own it. Peer mentorship is a delicate dance of lifting each other up to achieve more. Gender is part of us, but it doesn’t define us. Women can and must lead and the need for the See It Be It programme is greater now than it has ever been.”

 

Susie Walker, VP Awards and Insight, LIONS, added: “See It Be It launched in 2014, in response to the gender imbalance across the creative communications industry. The programme provides networking and an array of support for female industry talent from across the globe in their career and leadership ambitions. We are delighted to extend the See It Be It programme in 2022 and support creative women in the industry from across the world to achieve personal and professional success.”

 

The 15 females already selected to take part in See It Be It 2020/2021, who will join the five newly selected creatives for the 2022 cohort in Cannes, are as follows: 

Allie Steel, Senior Writer, DDB – Australia

Andrea Auz, Creative Director, Paper – Ecuador

Denise Tee, Creative Consultant – Philippines,

Ellen Fromm, Senior Copywriter, AKQA Amsterdam – Netherlands

Geetanjali Jaiswal, Senior Creative Director, McCann – India

Javiera Wuth, Senior Copywriter, Pedro Juan y Diego – Chile

Karo Gómez, Social Media Strategist, Media.Monks – Mexico

Lauren Ferreira, Creative Director for Apple, TBWA\Media Arts Lab – USA

Letícia Rodrigues, Associate Creative Director, FCB Brazil – Brazil

Mica Gallino, Brand Creative Director, Nike – USA

Nedal Ahmed, Senior Writer, Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo – Japan

Rachel Chew, Associate Creative Director, Ogilvy – Singapore

Rosa Guerrero, Creative Leader, MoM Marketing of Minds – Dominican Republic

Tescia Deák, Creative Director, TBWA\Chiat\Day – USA

 

Applications close on 16 February 2022 and the full See It Be It 2022 cohort will be announced in March. Click here to apply
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity will take place from 20-24 June 2022, in Cannes, France. Click here to purchase passes.

 

Source: Cannes Lions Press Release

 

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Muvi Cinemas Opens at Atelier La Vie in Jeddah

Muvi Cinemas – Atelier La Vie is the latest cinema to open as part of the exhibitor’s roll out plan to expand across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

 

Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown cinema brand Muvi Cinemas has announced the launch of its first standalone VIP Suites multiplex at Atelier La Vie. Located at the Al Shati District of Jeddah, the new cinema – which opened to the public on 15 December 2021, is part of a mixed-use leisure venue developed by Al-Anwa Holding Company for Investments.

The multiplex situated among exclusive retail stores, cafes and restaurants in an urban garden environment boasts 4 Muvi SUITES theaters with a total of 200 VIP seats, offering exceptional audiovisual experience and a luxurious lounge atmosphere unmatched in the kingdom.

The cinema also offers a distinguished and diverse à la carte menu that includes everything from light bites to a full meal, which can be enjoyed in both the lounge and the comfort of a cinema seat.

Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas – Atelier La Vie was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with a theme of urban downtown. The cutting-edge cinema venue aims to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, which includes timber, exposed steelwork, brickwork and a concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.

Sneak Peak of Muvi Cinema - Atelier La Vie in Jeddah KSAs -

 

“As MUVI expands rapidly across the kingdom, the VIP-focused location at Atelier LaVie will exemplify our brand’s ability to provide the most immersive and luxurious movie-viewing experience in the country,” said Adon Quinn, Chief Operating Officer at MUVI Cinemas. “It will be the first to feature MUVI Suites theatres exclusively—a natural decision borne of Al-Anwa’s commitment to providing the finest in retail, wellness, and dining at Atelier La Vie,” he added.

Together with the openings of muvi Boutique – Tala Mall and Boulevard Riyadh (which opened in December 2021) and Al-Yasmin Mall and Mujan Park (which opened in January 2022), Muvi Cinemas presently operates 174 screens across 20 locations in 9 cities across Saudi Arabia.

*More information on muvi Boutique – Tala Mall (Riyadh), Boulevard Riyadh (Riyadh), Al-Yasmin Mall (Jeddah) and Mujan Park (Khamis) to follow soon.

Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities at this standalone premium Muvi cinema location.

 

 

Sources: Muvi Cinemas

Saudi Box Office Hits 95% Growth in 2021

Saudi box office did a total of US$238 million in 2021, a 95% increase compared to the previous year.

 

Saudi Arabia in 2021 continued its exponential growth as a theatrical box office market with revenue totaling US$238 million for the year, a 95% increase compared with 2020 when the total intake had been $122 million, according to figures provided by Comscore.

Four years after the removal of the kingdom’s 35-year-old ban on movie theatres, Saudi Arabia has now achieved the status as the West Asian region’s top theatrical market in terms of gross box office, surpassing the UAE, which achieved a box office of US$130m for the year 2021.

Saudi cinemas witnessed the release of 340 new films in 2021, up from 222 films in 2020. The top-grossing 2021 title was Egyptian comedy Waafet Reggaala (A Stand Worthy of Men), which did US$15 million, making it the country’s top grosser ever since moviegoing was reinstated in January 2018.

Spider-Man: No Way Home was the top-grossing Hollywood title in Saudi Arabia in 2021, earning US$11.2 million and continuing to do well in 2022, ranking the No. 2 spot on the chart. It was followed by Cruella, which grossed US$9.1 million, and Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man, which made US$8.3 million in Saudi cinemas.

Egyptian comedy, Mesh Ana (Not Me), featuring local megastar Tamer Hosny, weighed in at No. 5 on the 2021 Saudi box office chart with US$8.2 million, while another release from Egypt Mama Hamel (Mom Is Pregnant), about a 60+ woman who is somehow expecting a child, came in at No. 10, pulling US$5.9 million.

Saudi Arabia’s surge in box office grosses is clearly driven by the increase in multiplexes across the nation. The number of multi-screen movie theaters in Saudi Arabia grew from 33 locations at the start of 2021 to 53 locations by December 2021, an increase of 20 new locations, according to Comscore.

According to figures revealed in December during the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah by Bahaa Abdulmajeed -an official from the Saudi Investment Ministry, Saudi Arabia now has 430 screens and counting, and  has an ambitious target of reaching 2,600 screens by 2030. Several analysts, including PwC, see Saudi as becoming a billion-dollar movie market in the next few years.

Currently, Saudi-owned Muvi Cinemas operates the highest number of local cinemas, with 21 locations (including its drive-in cinema) across the Kingdom. They are followed by VOX Cinemas with 15 locations. U.S. theater chain AMC Cinemas with 10 locations, Lebanon’s Empire Cinemas with 5 locations and Mexican-owned Cinépolis Cinemas which now operates 2 multiplexes in Saudi.

 

Top 10 Box Office Hits in Saudi Arabia in 2021

  1. Waafet Reggaala – US$15.08 million
  2. Spider-Man: No Way Home – US$11.2 million
  3. Cruella – US$9.1 million
  4. Wrath of Man – US$8.3 million
  5. Mesh Ana – US$8.2 million
  6. No Time to Die – US$8 million
  7. Fast & Furious 9 – US$7.8 million
  8. Venom: Let There Be Carnage – US$6.7 million
  9. A Quiet Place 2 – US$6.1 million
  10. Mana Hamel – US$5.9 million

 

 

Source: Variety

Spider-Man: No Way Home Becomes the Highest Grossing Movie of All-time in MENA

Spider-Man: No Way Home was the talk of the MCU community for months before its release. The internet was flooded with fan theories about multiple Spider-Man fighting together in the film, and people were convinced they had spotted Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield on set.

On December 16, 2021, Spider-Man finally made it into cinemas in MENA, and worldwide on December 17. The Multiverse brought both ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ and the ‘Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ to the big screen alongside Holland’s take on the ‘Web-slinging’ hero. In addition to them, several villains from previous Spider-Man films also made an appearance, matching the expectations of the MCU Spiderman fans as well as the general audience.

The Movie has been shattering records ever since. While receiving much praise from both fans and critics around the world, it has now earned a sweet spot on the domestic box office list in the US and has become the fourth highest-grossing film of all time. The movie raked up a US$ 702.6 million in ticket sales in the US alone since its release, and US$ 1.6 billion globally, making it the eighth highest-grossing film at the global box office.

Sony Pictures MENA Marketing Director Charbel Zakhour recently announced on LinkedIn that Spider-Man: No Way Home has officially become the No.1 Grossing Film in the MENA region. This box office success reaffirms the unmatched impact theatrical releases can have in times post the outbreak of the pandemic. Spider-Man: No Way Home also demolished any preconceived notions about how much a major theatrical blockbuster could gross in these times.

As a result of this success, the industry has maintained a V-shaped recovery since the disruption caused by the pandemic, and we are looking forward to a positive year in 2022.

Muvi Cinemas Opens at The View Mall in Riyadh

Newly opened Muvi Cinemas – The View is part of the ongoing Muvi brand’s expansion strategy across Saudi Arabia.

Muvi Cinemas opened its Fifteenth location Muvi Cinemas – The View at The View Mall in Riyadh on 15th December 2021. The cinema offers 9 screens with a capacity of 977 seats.

Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas – The View was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with an aim to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinematic experience.

 

The View - Muvi

 

The designs for the cutting-edge cinema venues have a theme of urban downtown, with the intention of creating a dynamic, modern, and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, including timber, exposed steelwork, exposed brickwork, and an exposed concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.

The View Mall spanning 52,200 square meters is an excellent hangout spot which boasts more than 170 international and local brand names, covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. A comprehensive list of shops features sportswear from Adidas, kidswear from Ziddy, Scandinavian brand L*TT LIV, jeans from Levi’s, casual wear from Aéropostale, and more.

Muvi Cinemas now operates 144 screens across 15 locations in 8 cities across Saudi Arabia.

Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of Muvi Cinemas – The View.

 

Sources: Chapman and Taylor and MUVI

 

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Dubai Lynx Announces 2022 Jury Presidents

Thirteen experts will lead the Dubai Lynx juries to award outstanding creativity in branded communications from across MENA

 

Dubai Lynx, MENA’s premier Festival and Awards for creative excellence in branded communications, has announced the thirteen industry experts who will lead the 2022 juries.

 

The Jury Presidents will judge work entered across 20 different categories, including the newly launched Social & Influencer Lynx and refreshed Creative Effectiveness Lynx and PR Lynx.

 

About the Jury Presidents, Philip Thomas, Chairman, Dubai Lynx, said, “This is an exceptional group of global talent from across a spectrum of disciplines. We are delighted that, together with their juries, they will be responsible for setting the creative bar in the region as they view, discuss and award work from across MENA. It’s a privilege to be working with them and we’re already excited to see the outcome of their judging.

 

Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman of Dubai Lynx, added: “Dubai Lynx, MENA’s premier festival of creativity, is making an eagerly awaited comeback. In 2022, a newly designed two-day learning and development experience will replace the full festival, with a smaller programme of community-focused networking and talks taking place in a number of venues across Dubai.”

 

The 2022 Dubai Lynx Jury Presidents have been announced as follows:

 

Dubai Lynx 2022

 

Brand Experience & Activation Jury President
Malcolm Poynton, Global Chief Creative Officer, Cheil Worldwide, Global

Creative Effectiveness and Creative Strategy Jury President
Nadja Bellan-White, Global Chief Marketing Officer, VICE Media Group, Global

Design and Industry Craft Jury President
Marta Swannie, Senior Creative Director, Superunion, United Kingdom

Direct and Outdoor Jury President
Chaka Sobhani, Global Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett, Global

Digital and Mobile Jury President
Wesley Ter Haar, Co-Founder, Media.Monks, Global

Entertainment Jury President
Asawin Phanichwatana, Deputy Chief Creative Officer, GREYnJ UNITED, Thailand

Film Jury President
Alex Grieve, Chief Creative Officer, AMV BBDO, United Kingdom

Film Craft Jury President
Khalil Bachooali, Founder & Managing Director, Offroad Films, India

Healthcare Jury President
Veronica Trujillo, Managing Director, TBWA\WorldHealth Mexico

Media Jury President
Anna Chitty, CEO, Starcom China

PR Jury President
Kat Thomas, Founder & Global Executive Creative Director, One Green Bean, Global

Print & Publishing and Radio & Audio Jury President
Tseliso Rangaka, Chief Creative Officer, FCB/HC Johannesburg, South Africa

Social & Influencer
Catalin Dobre, Chief Creative Officer McCann Worldgroup Romania & Creative Director McCann CEE, McCann, Romania

 

The winners of the 2022 awards will be revealed and celebrated at the Dubai Lynx Awards Show. Taking place at Dubai Opera House on 16 March 2022, the black-tie awards dinner is a night of celebration and networking for the whole industry.

 

Entries into Dubai Lynx are being accepted until 2 February 2022. For further information please visit the Dubai Lynx website

 

Tickets for the two-day learning and development experience will be available from 26 January 2022.

 

Source: Dubai Lynx

 

What’s Buzzin Behind The Screen – Industry News – January 2022

In this edition of ‘What’s Buzzin Behind the Screen’, we bring you the latest industry news – everything you need to know about what’s happening behind the scenes in Hollywood. From the latest trailer releases to box office collections and movie announcements, here’s the January 2022 update:

 

  1. Given the cinema closures and audience worries during the pandemic, there have been some successful movies in 2021. But it took the MCU to deliver a true blockbuster, as Spider-Man: No Way Home crossed the $1 billion mark globally just 12 days after it was released. As of now, the movie is at $1.05 billion, making it the third-fastest film to reach that mark, after Avengers: Infinity War and the top title holder Avengers: Endgame.

 

  1. For the second year in a row, China ended 2021 as the world’s largest theatrical film market. Total movie ticket revenue in the country clocked in at $7.3 billion (RMB 47.3 billion, assuming an average annual exchange rate of RMB 6.45 to $1), more than double last year’s total and down just 26 percent from a pre-pandemic high of $9.2 billion (RMB 64.3 billion) in 2019, according to data from regional box office tracker Artisan Gateway.

 

  1. Josh Hartnett is the newest addition to Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer, despite already including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, and Rami Malek. The movie is set in the backdrop of WWII, and portrays the life of scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in developing the atomic bomb.

 

  1. Actors today are increasingly interested in portraying Hollywood luminaries of the golden age. Both Jamie Bell and Tom Holland have been linked with Fred Astaire in the last couple of years and now Chris Evans is rumored to be playing Gene Kelly in a new movie. The movie will revolve around 12-year-old boy working at the MGM lot in 1952 who develops an imaginary friendship with legendary movie star Kelly while he works on his next film.

 

  1. Taika Waititi is directing an adaptation of Alejandro Jodorowsky and Mœbius’ graphic novel The Incal – an epic space opera, which follows P.I. John Difool who stumbles upon a mystical artifact which forces him on a journey to save the universe. As for Waititi, his next project to arrive in theaters will be Thor: Love and Thunder, and he’s also working on a Star Wars movie.

 

  1. With Encanto out in the world, Disney has now announced its next big animation project –Strange World. The movie will tell the story of an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest — and by far — most crucial mission. A November 2022 release date has been set for the movie directed by Don Hall.

 

  1. Dave Bautista, who had a great year in 2021 with Dune and Army Of The Dead, now plans to add another respected director to his impressive list of collaborators as he has signed on to direct M Night Shyamalan‘s next film, Knock At The Cabin. The filmmaker’s follow-up to Old is, naturally, a complete mystery so far, with Shyamalan merely teasing the title. Bautista is also involved in Rian Johnson‘s Knives Out 2 and is currently working with James Gunn on Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3.

 

  1. The reuniting of Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot from Wonder Woman will have to stand in line. Jenkins has stepped down as director of Cleopatra, a chronological thriller starring Gadot as Egypt’s renowned ruler. The director of the Marvel superhit The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, namely, Kari Skogland will now be directing the movie. However, Patty Jenkins will not leave the filming completely. She’ll continue to produce Cleopatra as she concentrates on her following two films, Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 3 as well as Disney and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.

 

Stay tuned for the latest industry news in our February 2022 edition.

 

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Empire Online

 

 

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AMC Cinemas Opens at Ajdan Walk in Al-Khobar

Newly opened Ajdan Walk is part of AMC Cinemas’ ongoing strategy to develop the Kingdom’s cinema sector under the Vision 2030 Quality of Life program. The Cinema offers 9 auditoriums providing an enjoyable luxury experience with advanced audiovisual technologies

 

AMC Cinemas, the first global cinema operator in the Kingdom, has opened a new location at Ajdan Walk in Al-Khobar.

It will provide a state-of-the-art cinematic experience in line with the high standards AMC Cinemas is already known for.

AMC Ajdan Walk  was officially inaugurated in presence of prominent personalities and media representatives on Wednesday, December 22. Guests watched an exclusive screening of newly released, The Matrix Resurrections, the fourth part of the Matrix series of films.

The new cinema offers 900 seats across nine auditoriums, including seven luxurious screens and two premium large formats, Dolby Cinema, which offers vibrant images and exceptional sound purity, and Prime, which evokes enthusiasm through amazing display technologies, sound systems with an immersive viewing pleasure, and luxurious reclining seats which provide the utmost comfort and relaxation.

 

Ajdan Walk

 

Speaking on the occasion, Andrew Such, AMC Cinemas CEO said, “The opening is part of our ongoing strategy to provide an innovative cinematic experience for audiences throughout the Kingdom.  It also reflects our commitment to provide the highest international standards and ensure movie-goers’ visits to our locations are an unforgettable experience.”

“With the opening of AMC Ajdan Walk we continue to demonstrate our support for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Quality of Life program which aims to enhance and grow the entertainment sector. It motivates us to continue our strategy to build and provide innovative cinemas across the Kingdom,” he added.

CEO of Ajdan Development Company (Ajdan Walk Waterfront Operator) Eng. Mohammed bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Otaibi said, “We are proud of our cooperation with AMC Cinemas in opening the first independent Cinema theatre in the Kingdom. At the same time, we are looking forward to making this place one of the modern landmarks in Al-Khobar’s first waterfront.”

With the opening of AMC Ajdan Walk  in Al-Khobar, AMC Cinemas now operates 66 screens across 10 locations in the Kingdom with five in Riyadh and one in Jeddah, Al-Dawadmi, Hafr Al-Batin and Majmaah.

Contact us to advertise your brand on the screens of AMC Ajdan Walk  – AL Khobar.

 

 

 

Source: AMC Press Release.

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