Back in December 2017, Saudi Arabia announced the lift of a 35-year-old ban on commercial theaters as part of the country’s 2030 vision to modernize and move the country forward.
In April 2018, Saudi Arabia’s first cinema (operated by AMC Entertainment) was launched, followed by the launch of a 4 screen VOX Cinemas at Riyadh Park Mall –featuring an IMAX, 2 VOX Kids and 1 VIP screen.
As the official cinema advertising partner of VOX Cinemas, Motivate Val Morgan received an overwhelming response from advertisers within hours of the cinema chain launching in the Kingdom.
The first advertisers to book on-screen ads through Motivate Val Morgan at VOX Cinemas – Riyadh Park Mall were recognized and awarded certificates for embracing the medium and including cinema as part of their media mix in Saudi Arabia:
HotelsCombined
The First Advertiser in Saudi Arabia
Agency – Adcomm
Campaign Start Date – 10th May 2018
Campaign End Date – 04th July 2018
General Motors Overseas Distribution LLC for Chevrolet & GMC Yukon
The First Advertiser in the Automobile Category
Agency – Carat Middle East
Campaign Start Date – 10th May 2018
Campaign End Dates– 18th July 2018 (Chevrolet) and 04th July 2018 (GMC Yukon)
Emirates Airlines
The First Advertiser in the Airline Category
Agency – Havas Media Middle East
Campaign Start Date – 24th May 2018
Campaign End Date – 06th June 2018
Landmark Retail Investment for Homecentre
The First Advertiser in the Furniture and Furnishing Category
Agency – OMD KSA
Campaign Start Date – 24th May 2018
Campaign End Date – 06th June 2018
Tawuniya
The First Advertiser in the Insurance Provider Category
Agency – OMD KSA
Campaign Start Date – 07th June 2018
Campaign End Date – 01st August 2018
Richemont (Dubai) FZE for Cartier
The First Advertiser in the Luxury Jewellery Category
Agency – MediaCom UAE
Campaign Start Date – 14th June 2018
Campaign End Date – 20th June 2018
ADIDAS
The First Advertiser in the Sports Performance and Lifestyle Category
Agency – Spark Foundry MENA
Campaign Start Date – 14th June 2018
Campaign End Date – 08th August 2018
Huawei
The First Advertiser in the Mobile Category
Agency – Initiative Media ME
Campaign Start Date – 05th July 2018
Campaign End Date – 30th January 2019
NETFLIX for Sacred Games S1
The First Advertiser in the Entertainment on Demand Category
Agency – MEC KSA
Campaign Start Date – 05th July 2018
Campaign End Date – 18th July 2018
Majid Al Futtaim Properties LLC for MAF Properties Community
The First Advertiser in the Real Estate Category
Campaign Start Date – 24th May 2018
Campaign End Date – 18th July 2018
Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce
The First Advertiser in the Tourism Category
Agency – Starcom UAE
Campaign Start Date – 02nd August 2018
Campaign End Date – 22nd August 2018
Binzagr CO-RO LTD for Suncola
The First Advertiser in the F&B Category
Agency – OMD KSA
Campaign Start Date – 30th August 2018
Campaign End Date – 03rd October 2018
Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
The First Advertiser in the Telecommunications Category
Agency – UM7
Campaign Start Date – 20th September 2018
Campaign End Date – 29th September 2018
Alshaya International Trading Company KSA for IHOP
The First Advertiser in the Restaurant and Café Category
Agency – BPG MAX
Campaign Start Date – 23rd September 2018
Campaign End Date – 29th September 2018
Toshiba
The First Advertiser in the Electronics Category
Agency – Equation Media
Campaign Start Date – 11th October 2018
Campaign End Date – 07th November 2018
Rado
The First Advertiser in the Watches Category
Agency – BPG MAX
Campaign Start Date – 15th November 2018
Campaign End Date – 12th December 2018
Glade Air Freshener
The First Advertiser in the Home Care Category
Agency – PHD
Campaign Start Date – 13th December 2018
Campaign End Date – 09th January 2019
The First Advertiser in the Technology Category
Agency – OMD
Campaign Start Date – 20th December 2018
Campaign End Date – 24th April 2019
Dubai Shopping Festival
The First Advertiser in the Events, Exhibitions & Conference Category
Agency – Starcom
Campaign Start Date – 20th December 2018
Campaign End Date – 16th January 2019
Olite & Afia International Company
The First Advertiser in the Healthy Cooking Oil Category
Agency – Starcom Jeddah
Campaign Start Date – 18th March 2019
Campaign End Date – 24th March 2019
Downy, P&G
The First Advertiser in the Fabric Softener Category
Agency – Starcom Jeddah
Campaign Start Date – 20th June 2019
Campaign End Date – 03rd July 2019
Motivate Val Morgan warmly congratulates the advertisers highlighted above, and encourage other advertisers in specific categories – who are yet to advertise on cinema screens in Saudi Arabia, to get in touch with a member of our sales team for more information on advertising opportunities.
Motivate Val Morgan recently acquired new cinema locations across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE.
Operational Cinema Locations:
1.VOX Cinemas | Riyadh Park Mall | Saudi Arabia
VOX Cinemas launched at Riyadh Park Mall in May 2018. The cinema features 4 screens with a total seating capacity of 330 seats, and includes an IMAX and Kids screen.
2.VOX Cinemas | The Avenues | Kuwait
VOX Cinemas launched at The Avenues Kuwait in May 2018. The cinema is the biggest in Kuwait with 17 screens and 1645 seats. The cinema includes 4 Theatre by Rhodes screens, 2 MAX screens and 2 Kids screens.
3.VOX Cinemas | City Centre Sharjah | UAE
VOX Cinemas launched at City Centre Sharjah on 14th June 2018. The cinema is home to 12 screens with a total seating capacity of 1268 seats, and includes 1 Max screen, 2 Kids screens and 2 Gold by Rhodes screens.
4.Cinemacity | 06 Mall Sharjah | UAE
Cinemacity launched its brand-new cinema at 06 Mall in Sharjah on April 10th 2018. The cinema has 8 screens with a total seating capacity of 1293 seats.
The cinema is home to UAE’s biggest IMAX screen to date (366 seats), which also includes an exclusive VIP lounge for IMAX ticket holders. The IMAX cinemas also offers three different classes of seating – Deluxe Class leather wrapped seats, Club Class seats with semi reclining chairs as well as extra legroom, and the luxurious full reclining VIP Star Class seats that come with in-theater service.
The cinema also features 2 Star Theaters (Gold Class theaters) with a private lounge.
Motivate Val Morgan presently services 6 cinema operators (VOX Cinemas, Reel Cinemas, Oscar Cinema, Cine Royal Cinema, Roxy Cinemas and Cinemacity) across 51 cinema locations in 8 countries (UAE, Oman, Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia). We have a total of 471 screens and 59686 seats as part of our cinema network.
Cinema Locations Coming Soon:
1.VOX Cinemas | Aloft City Centre Deira | UAE
Movie lovers, be prepared to be transported into the world of film at Aloft City Centre Deira, Dubai – offering the regions first movie themed suites alongside a VOX Cinemas OUTDOOR screen with 40 seats.
Bringing a fresh vibe to Deira, Aloft City Centre is now open, but the OUTDOOR cinema is scheduled to open soon.
2.Reel Cinemas | Rove Downtown | UAE
Reel Cinemas will further expand its local footprint with a brand-new concept – the first hotel-cinema – located in Rove Downtown, the contemporary midscale hotel in Downtown Dubai. The hotel-cinema will add to the convenience of hotel guests, catering to the needs of contemporary travellers and urban residents.
Scheduled to launch in Q3 2018, the boutique Reel Cinemas – Rove Downtown will feature 1 screen with approximately 49 seats, and will include state-of-the-art audiovisual technologies.
3.Reel Cinemas | The Springs Souq | UAE
The Springs Souk, a development by Emaar is now open in the heart of the Springs community.
The new retail and leisure destination is made up of around 100 shops and restaurants split across two levels. Inside, you’ll also find a large Carrefour Market, family clinic and a gym.
Reel Cinemas is set to open a cinema at the mall. Details of the number of screens and seating capacity are still to be confirmed.
Stay tuned for more updates on the 3 cinema locations opening soon!
Sources: Arabian Business, City Centre Deira, Reel Cinemas and What’s On
