Advanced Television

IMAX adds MENA screens

June 11, 2015

By Chris Forrester

Giant screen specialists IMAX is adding two new theatres in Dubai. Both will be installed at the huge new IMG Worlds of Adventure theme park, claimed to be the world’s largest indoor theme park.

The IMAX deal is through their local partner Novo Cinemas, the largest cinema owner in the region. . The existing IMAX theatre in Dubai is at the busy Ibn Battuta Mall in the city. Another is located in Qatar, a third is in Bahrain and there’s another in Festival City Mall in Dubai.

The park, built indoors to avoid the blistering summer heat in Dubai, spans 1.5 million square foot and can absorb 20,000 visitors a day.

“Gulf Film was the first exhibitor to open a commercial IMAX theatre in the Middle East in 2005 and now represents our largest partner in the region. We are delighted to build upon our decade-long partnership with today’s agreement,” said Andrew Cripps, President, IMAX EMEA. “Since our commercial entry into the market, attendance and ticket prices have steadily increased, resulting in a rising Middle East box office. These positive trends, coupled with the success of our existing theatres with partners such as Novo Cinemas, position the Middle East an important growth market for us.”

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