VOX Cinemas 15-screen cinema at Wafi City in Dubai features a Samsung Onyx screen and signature concepts including KIDS, MAX, as well as a reimagined VIP experience.
Majid Al Futtaim – the leading shopping mall, communities, retail, and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, launched its first hybrid cinema and family entertainment centre at Wafi City in Dubai, UAE on 9 May 2021.
The state-of-the-art entertainment hub spans two floors and comprises VOX Cinemas – the Middle East’s most innovative and fastest growing exhibitor, integrated with Magic Planet – the regionally award-winning family entertainment centre.
The 15-screen cinema at VOX Cinemas Wafi City offers moviegoers an exceptional cinematic experience and boasts the first Samsung Onyx screen in the UAE. Backed by brilliant LED picture quality and an infinite contrast ratio, Samsung Onyx delivers a powerful, captivating and memorable experience through HDR (High Dynamic Range) graphics and clear sounds. The cinema also features cutting-edge audio-visual technology and a variety of VOX signature concepts including KIDS, MAX, as well as a reimagined VIP experience with luxury seating and in-seat dining.
Families and fun seekers of all ages can also enjoy a wide variety of the latest video games, amusement rides, attractions and redemption games at Magic Planet, which features Bumper Cars, Drop ‘N Twist and Highway 66 – the ultimate mini-bowling experience.
The all-encompassing entertainment destination also features an array of F&B outlets to complement the experience including new concepts Candy Corner, where guests can indulge in a wide variety of sweet treats, and The Spotlight at Wafi City, which serves gourmet cuisine directly to guests’ seats. The décor in the thoughtfully appointed new culinary offering is imaginative and intriguing and truly immerses discerning film fans in a unique atmosphere that redefines luxury and the cinematic experience.
Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment said, “We’re proud to collaborate with Wafi Group, which shares our vision for creating remarkable destinations and passion for excellence, to open our first hybrid cinema and family entertainment centre in the United Arab Emirates. Today’s customers are looking for more engaging and immersive ways to spend time with family and friends and, at Majid Al Futtaim, we are committed to staying ahead of the curve and finding innovative new ways to exceed evolving
expectations. VOX Cinemas and Magic Planet at Wafi City have been designed as a holistic concept seamlessly integrating two recreational functions into one enriched experience and we’re very excited to welcome new guests and create great moments together.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mana bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman of Wafi Group added, “Majid Al Futtaim is synonymous with customer-focused and innovative experiences and, we are excited to partner with them to launch this world-class entertainment destination, which offers an exciting selection of immersive attractions for the whole family to enjoy. VOX Cinemas Wafi City takes the cinematic experience to the next level with a unique offering that goes beyond customers’ expectations and features the ultimate VIP experience.”
VOX Cinemas presently operates 22 cinemas and 267 screens across the UAE. In March 2021, the cinema exhibitor opened at City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah, with the launch marking the fifth cinema opening across the region in the wake of COVID-19. Later this month, VOX Cinemas is set to launch three multiplexes across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as part of its ambitious expansion plans across the region.
We at Motivate Val Morgan congratulate VOX Cinemas on the opening of the new the 15-screen cinema at Wafi City, and warmly welcome this location to our cinema circuit in the UAE.
Contact us to advertise your brand on the screens at Wafi City in Dubai, UAE.
Sources: Vox Cinemas Press Release
VOX Cinemas opened its third location in Cairo, Egypt at City Centre Almaza on 1st October 2019.
City Centre Almaza is the fourth and latest addition to Majid Al Futtaim’s portfolio in Egypt – which also includes Mall of Egypt, City Centre Maadi and City Centre Alexandria
Located in the heart of Heliopolis, City Centre Almaza spans over 100,000 square meters and features unique retail spaces, dining outlets and exciting lifestyle experiences – providing great moments for both residents and tourists in Cairo. The mall is also set to become one of the favoured destinations for shopping and entertainment over the next couple of years.
VOX Cinemas at City Centre Almaza is home to 16 state-of-the-art screens with a total of 1401 seats, and includes IMAX, MAX, Kids, 4DX and Gold Class experiences.
The cinema exhibitor presently operates 44 screens across 3 locations in Egypt:
Mall of Egypt – 21 screens with 2288 seats
City Centre Alexandria – 7 screens with 1626 seats
City Centre Almaza – 16 screens with 1401 seats
Motivate Val Morgan congratulates VOX Cinemas on its opening at City Centre Almaza in Egypt and warmly welcomes this new location to our regional cinema circuit.
Contact us for more information on cinema advertising opportunities in Egypt.
For more information on locations and movie timings in Egypt, visit https://egy.voxcinemas.com/
Sources: Daily News Egypt, VOX Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim
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VOX Cinemas launched its sixth location in KSA at West Avenue Mall Dammam on Thursday 27th June 2019.
The cinema features 6 screens with a total seating capacity of 911 seats and includes VOX MAX and Kids experiences.
VOX MAX brings to the table new spacious seats with armrest, side table, and extra legroom, crisp, bright and 100% digital imagery with Laser projection, and Dolby Atmos – the best in cinema surround sound technology.
VOX Kids offers little cinemagoers an unmatched expansive experience where their imagination can run wild with the first-ever and only cinema concept designed especially for young viewers.
Image Credits – eyeofdubai.ae
Image Credits – RiyadhConnect
Mohamed Al Hashemi, Country Manager at Majid Al Futtaim Ventures in Saudi Arabia, said: “We seek to be close to our customers, enhance their quality entertainment, and enable them to test the finest cinematic experience near their homes.”
“Knowing we are the pioneer cinema operators in the region (Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province), we feverously anticipate serving movie lovers at VOX Cinemas, West Avenue Mall Dammam,” he added.
With the launch of this new location, VOX Cinemas presently operates a whopping 53 screens across 6 cinema locations in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
VOX cinemas is also expected to open four more cinemas in 2019, including one in the Kingdom’s North-West Tabuk province.
As the exclusive cinemas advertising partner across the region, we at Motivate Val Morgan would like to congratulate VOX Cinemas on the opening of West Avenue Mall Dammam, and warmly welcome this new location to our circuit in Saudi Arabia.
Contact us for more information on cinema advertising in KSA.
For more information on locations and movie timings, visit https://ksa.voxcinemas.com/
Related Articles:
VOX Cinemas Opens Fifth Location in KSA at Kingdom Centre
VOX Cinemas Opens Fourth Location in KSA – The Roof
VOX Cinemas Opens at Al Qasr Mall in Riyadh
VOX Cinemas Opens at Red Sea Mall in Jeddah
VOX Cinemas Opens in Saudi Arabia at Riyadh Park Mall
Source: Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia made history in April 2018 with the launch of its first cinema at King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) – operated by AMC Cinemas, followed by a 4 screen VOX Cinemas at Riyadh Park Mall in May 2018 – featuring IMAX and Kids experiences.
VOX Cinemas has subsequently cut red ribbons at 3 more locations in the Kingdom:
Red Sea Mall (Jeddah) in January 2019 – featuring IMAX, Kids and Gold Class experiences
Al Qasr Mall (Riyadh) in March 2019 – featuring MAX and Kids experiences
The Roof (Riyadh) in March 2019 – featuring a Kids experience
The Kingdom recently marked another historic milestone with both a private (Wednesday 13th March 2019) and public screening (Thursday 14th March 2019) of a Saudi film titled Roll’em at VOX Cinemas – Red Sea Mall.
Roll’em – written, directed, shot and produced over three years, features an all-Saudi crew (from the actors to the sound director). The brainchild of director Abdulelah Al-Qurashi, co-producer Abdulrahman Khoja, and screenwriter Yasser Hammad, tells the story of a Saudi filmmaker named Omar Nizar who meets a retired 1970s cinematographer while on a journey to discover his home city of Jeddah.
With diverse characters and an incredible cast, this family-friendly movie will show a different image of Jeddah.
“It’s a Jeddawi film to the core. The post-production was in Egypt. The areas where we don’t have expertise in we had to outsource, but everything that had to do with the creative work is purely Saudi,” said Hammad in an interview with Arab News.
“The idea (for the characters) came up from a joke actually. I was pretending to be an old cinematographer and using Hejazi words and the accent. It inspired me to create a character,” he said.
“We had our inspiration from actual film directors from the 1970s in Saudi Arabia that no one knows about. They tried to pursue the same dreams we had, but failed because of their circumstances.” he added.
Hammad said having the film screened in Jeddah “is like a dream come true,” adding: “Without this city, I wouldn’t be able to create art.”
Roll’em is the first of many more local projects to be released. Experts believe that Saudi Arabia could produce $1 billion in revenue over the next 3 years, and by 2030 it could be among the 10 biggest film markets in the world.
Sources: Arab News, Vogue Arabia and Variety
VOX Cinemas opened its second location – Al Qasr Mall, in Riyadh on Wednesday 6th March 2019.
The cinema features 15 screens – with a total seating capacity of 1,294, and includes Kids and MAX experiences.
VOX Cinemas presently operates 31 screens across Saudi Arabia – 19 screens in Riyadh and 12 screens in Jeddah, bringing them one step closer towards achieving their five-year plan of building 600 screens across the region and bringing world-class entertainment to the Kingdom.
According to Mohamed Al-Hashemi, Country Manager of VOX Cinemas for Saudi Arabia, the market reaction has been excellent and Saudi Arabia’s cinema industry has had a ‘good start’ – with audiences responding well to the ‘entertainment-plus cinema’ offering at the mall.
“We are also very pleased at the support we have received from the government so far, in everything from operating, to licensing and expansion,” he said.
Kelvin Kwok Han Sim, CEO of Dar Al Arkan – the property development company behind Al Qasr Mall, described this particular location as an important part of Saudi’s evolving cinema culture.
“The new cinema complex will meet the expectations of our discerning guests and will feature the next generation technology fit for the current sophisticated and tech-savvy Saudi movie-buffs,” he said.
As the exclusive cinemas advertising partner of VOX Cinemas – across the region, we at Motivate Val Morgan warmly welcome Al Qasr Mall into our cinema circuit in Saudi Arabia.
Contact a member of our sales team for more information on cinema advertising opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
For more information on locations and movie timings, visit https://ksa.voxcinemas.com/
Related Articles:
VOX Cinemas Opens at Red Sea Mall in Jeddah
VOX Cinemas Opens in Saudi Arabia at Riyadh Park Mall
Source: Gulf Business, Eye of Riyadh, Arabian Business and Construction Week Online.
Led by one of the world’s most powerful millennials – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ‘Vision 2030’ is steering KSA into an unprecedented era of social and economic reform.
Having adopted entertainment as one of the key pillars in its new development plan, ‘Vision 2030’ initiated the lift on the 35-year-old ban on cinema, which in turn has opened up a previously untapped and lucrative revenue stream for the Kingdom and its entertainment sector.
A Kantar TNS study conducted among Saudi residents in 2017 shows fresh opportunities for marketers to make inroads into the Kingdom. As per the research, 67 per cent of respondents said they would head for a round of movie watching and 90 per cent of Saudi residents plan to visit malls with cinemas more often. Thus, cinema advertising is set to become a new growth medium, presenting significant opportunities for advertisers to target young (Saudi Arabia has 32 million consumers with the majority under 25) and affluent (Saudis spend more than $5 billion a year on overseas leisure travel) audiences within KSA.
The government of KSA estimates that movie theatres will contribute over 90 billion riyals ($24 billion) to the economy, with about 300 cinemas and 2,000 screens to be built in the country by 2030.
Existing Cinemas in Saudi Arabia
April 2018 witnessed the launch of Saudi Arabia’s first cinema operated by AMC Theatres – a single screen cinema with a total seating capacity of 620, followed by the launch of VOX Cinemas at Riyadh Park Mall in May 2018 – featuring an IMAX screen, 2 KIDS screens and 1 VIP screen with a total seating capacity of 330.
Upcoming Cinemas in Saudi Arabia
AMC Theatres will be a major contributor to the total cinema count in Saudi Arabia by 2030, as the cinema operator intends to open 30 to 40 cinemas in 15 cities over the next five years, growing to 50 to 100 theatres by 2030.
VOX Cinemas has a SAR 2 billion investment plan in place to expand its footprint to a total of 600 screens in the Kingdom over the next five years. As part of this plan, the leading cinema chain recently announced the opening of the first multiplex in Jeddah at Red Sea Mall by December 2018 – featuring 12 screens which will include three GOLD by Rhodes and an IMAX screen, and a 15-screen multiplex in the first quarter of 2019 at Al Qasr Mall in Riyadh – featuring its signature KIDS and MAX experiences.
Al-Rashed Empire Cinema Consortium – who successfully received a license to operate cinemas in the Kingdom in July 2018, will be the third player in the market. The cinema operator has plans to open as many as 30 cinemas in various cities around Saudi Arabia.
Cinema Advertising in KSA
As the exclusive cinema advertising partner of VOX Cinemas and the only company presently selling cinema advertising in KSA, Motivate Val Morgan has received an overwhelming response since the launch of the cinema at Riyadh Park Mall.
With a growing appetite for international/regional content and world-class cinema experiences, existing cinema operators stepping up plans to open additional screens across the country and more operators expected to enter the fray, KSA presents a hotbed of opportunities for cinema advertisers over the next few years.
Meet the first cinema advertiser in Saudi Arabia, browse the list of upcoming blockbusters releasing in Q4 2018 and contact a member of our sales team for more information on cinema advertising opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
Sources: KSA Entertainment, Film Journal, Gulf News, The Arabian Marketer, The Washington Post, Wikipedia, Saudi Gazette, The Motley Fool, PR Newswire and Arabian Business
On June 8th 2018, VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif launched 10 new screens – bringing its screen count to 20 screens and seating capacity to 2573 seats.
The cinema now includes 10 regular screens, 2 VOX MAX screens, 4 THEATRE by Rhodes screens, an IMAX Sapphire screen, a 4DX screen and 2 VOX Kids screens.
The expansion of VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif is part of Majid Al Futtaim’s AED 335 million enhancement project at the mall which also includes:
Mohamed Al Jasmi, Senior Mall Manager of City Centre Mirdif – Majid Al Futtaim said, “We are pleased to release phase one of City Centre Mirdif’s AED335 million enhancement project which will add value to the mall’s existing world-class facilities. We are committed to delivering an unparalleled shopping experience as the needs and expectations of our customers evolve and look forward to introducing the new VOX Cinemas complex and mall prayer rooms next year.”
The redevelopment of existing assets such as City Centre Mirdif is a key element of Majid Al Futtaim’s overall UAE strategy announced in June 2016: to open 10 new City Centre destinations, 28 cinemas, 40 Carrefour supermarkets and a 740,000 sqm community, by the end of 2020.
Sources: City Centre Mirdif (Press Release) and VOX Cinemas
As part of Majid Al Futtaim cinemas investment of AED 1.2 billion ($330 million) through a series of acquisitions, organic expansions and a commitment to customer experience, VOX Cinemas – leading cinema chain in the Middle East, is expected to launch at The Avenues mall in Kuwait in March 2018.
VOX Cinemas presently operates in UAE, Lebanon, Oman, Egypt, Qatar and Bahrain with 29 cinema locations in total (including the City Cinema chain locations in Oman).
VOX Cinemas – The Avenues in Kuwait, will house 17 screens with an approximate seating capacity of 1679, and will include 2 MAX screens, 4 Theatre by Rhodes screens, 2 Kids screens and a new VOX experience for teens.
The Avenues is the biggest mall in Kuwait with a footfall of 52 million in 2015, and is a prominent site for Saudi nationals. The mall presently has a cinema managed and operated by Cinescape Cinemas with 8 screens (including VIP and Dolby Atmos screens).
VOX Cinemas will launch its first cinema in Kuwait in the new extension of the mall, and as the official cinema advertising partner of VOX Cinemas, Motivate Val Morgan is pleased to announce that we will be extending our cinema advertising footprint to Kuwait in March this year.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Sources: VOX Cinemas and Arabian Business
