Cinema Ticket Prices in Saudi Arabia to Decrease due to Licensing Discounts

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah, has approved a reduction in financial fees for cinema operating licenses, in a move aimed at bolstering the sustainability and growth of the country’s cinema sector, according to Saudi Gazette.
The chairman of the Board of Directors of the Film Commission and Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah, explained that the revised fees cover licenses for permanent and temporary cinemas, as well as cinemas catering to specialized needs.
The Film Commission has provided details of the updated costs following the reduction:
Permanent cinema:
• In “A” category cities, the cost is now SR25,000, down from SR210,000.
• In “B” category cities, the cost is now SR15,000, reduced from SR126,000.
• In “C” category cities, the reduced cost is SR5,000, down from SR84,000.
Temporary cinema:
• In “A” category cities, the revised cost is SR15,000, compared to SR105,000.
• In “B” category cities, the cost is reduced to SR10,000 from SR63,000.
• In “C” category cities, the cost has been lowered to SR5,000, down from SR42,000.
The commission has also disclosed the updated costs for licenses to operate cinemas showing one or more films on a permanent or temporary basis:
Permanent cinema:
• In “A” category cities, the cost has been reduced from SR21,000 per screen to just SR3,000 per branch.
• In “B” category cities, the cost is now SR2,000, down from SR12,600.
• In “C” category cities, the cost has been set at SR1,000, reduced from SR8,400.
Temporary cinema:
• In “A” category cities, the cost per branch is now SR500, instead of SR5,000 per screen.
• In both “B” and “C” category cities, the cost is now SR500, a decrease from SR5,000.
In addition to the fee reductions, the commission board has implemented other measures aimed at enhancing local production within the sector.
These include transferring the authority to issue licenses for operating production studios, producing visual and audio content, and distributing cinematographic movies.
The commission has also introduced a procedure to obtain a no-objection license for cinematography from the Film Commission.
The application process for these licenses will be available via the Ibdaa cultural platform.
These initiatives are expected to result in a significant decrease in cinema ticket prices, particularly after applying discounts to promote the expansion of the film industry throughout the Kingdom.
The commission board is planning to activate financial compensation discounts for cinema ticket revenues in order to attract more investment and production.
Eng. Abdullah Al-Qahtani, CEO of the Film Commission, highlighted the commission’s efforts to encourage private sector cinema companies in the Kingdom to collaborate by offering discounts and promotions to audiences. He emphasized that these reductions align with international standards and aim to strengthen the cinematic landscape in Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, the commission is committed to establishing the Kingdom as a leading destination for both local and international production.
“We are also actively working to enhance the presence of Saudi films by promoting their screening in various cinemas,” added Al-Qahtani.

 

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