There’s ‘no ban’ on cinema

JEDDAH: There are currently no regulations that ban the establishment of cinemas in the Kingdom, and obtaining permits to establish them takes no more than 48 to 72 hours, said Fahd Al-Tamimi of the Saudi Arabia Producers and Distributers Association.

In a statement to the local press, Al-Tamimi said the failure to exhibit movies in the Kingdom is a result of a failure to obtain a license in advance from the Ministry of Culture and Information. The ministry is responsible for monitoring all movies before they are shown and coordinating with a number of specialized officials.
He attributed the lack of a vibrant cinematic presence in the Kingdom to ignorance and misconceptions by investors that the system prohibited the establishment of cinemas.
The association intends to contact a number of Saudi businessmen soon in order to tap investment and clarify that the activity is not prohibited in the Kingdom, he said.
In order to obtain the license to establish a cinema, Al-Tamimi said the first step is to submit a request to the association. The association then coordinates with the local municipality for approval of the engineering and architectural plans of the building. After this, the request is submitted to the Civil Defense Directorate to oversee entrances, exits and all safety requirements. The request is then sent to the Interior Ministry for approval.
Al-Tamimi said all the procedures are handled free of charge by the association.