In a landmark celebration on February 22, 2024, Saudi Arabia celebrated the sixth anniversary of the reopening of its cinema industry, marking a pivotal moment in the kingdom’s journey towards modernisation and economic diversification.
The decision to permit cinemas to operate, made in 2017, heralded a new era of cultural transformation and economic growth as part of the ambitious Vision 2030 plan.
Since the first commercial cinema opened its doors in Riyadh in April 2018, the kingdom has witnessed a burgeoning cultural shift, aimed at enriching entertainment options for both citizens and expatriates, enticing tourists, and fostering job creation within the burgeoning entertainment sector.
Timeline of Saudi Arabia’s Social Changes:
– 2017: Saudi Arabia announces the ambitious Vision 2030 plan, a comprehensive blueprint for economic and social reform aimed at reducing the kingdom’s dependence on oil and modernising its society.
– 2017: The decision to allow cinemas to operate in Saudi Arabia is made, marking a significant departure from decades of strict cultural and social restrictions.
– 2018: April – The first commercial cinema in Saudi Arabia opens its doors in Riyadh, marking a historic moment in the kingdom’s cultural evolution.
– 2018: June – The kingdom lifts its longstanding ban on women driving, granting women the right to obtain driver’s licences and drive legally for the first time in decades.
– 2019: August – Saudi Arabia announces sweeping reforms to its male guardianship system, granting women greater autonomy and the right to travel abroad without permission from a male guardian.
– 2020: January – The kingdom launches tourist visas for the first time, opening its doors to international tourists and aiming to diversify its economy by promoting tourism.
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– 2021: Saudi Arabia hosts the Formula One Grand Prix for the first time, signalling the kingdom’s growing openness to hosting international sporting and entertainment events.
– 2022: September – The kingdom announces plans to build the world’s fastest and tallest roller-coaster in Saudi Arabia, showcasing its commitment to developing world-class entertainment infrastructure.
– 2023: Saudi Arabia introduces a new labour law aimed at improving working conditions and rights for expatriate workers, aligning with international standards.
– 2024: February – Saudi Arabia celebrates the sixth anniversary of the reopening of its cinema industry, highlighting the kingdom’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy and embrace progressive social reforms.
Notably, the resurgence of cinemas has spurred the development of state-of-the-art cinema complexes, exemplified by Reel Cinemas, poised for expansion across Saudi Arabia through a groundbreaking $270 million investment initiative by Emaar Entertainment. This remarkable development underscores the cinema industry’s burgeoning significance in Saudi Arabia’s multifaceted efforts to diversify its economy and embrace progressive reforms.
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