Founded in Mexico, global cinema chain Cinépolis currently operates more than 657 cinema complexes, offering over 1,125,000 seats across 17 countries worldwide. In 2018, Cinépolis forayed into the GCC in partnership with Dubai-based retail conglomerate Al Tayer Group.
Currently, there is one Cinépolis theatre in Bahrain, four planned for Oman with one operational. One is set to launch in Meydan One in Dubai next year. In Saudi Arabia, it is a three-way partnership between Cinépolis, Al Tayer Group and Al Hokair Group.
The cinema chain has significant expansion plans in the GCC. “We will expand our footprint in Bahrain, Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia,” confirmed Ashish Shukla, CEO, Cinépolis Gulf. “Cinépolis launched in Bahrain followed by Oman. In both locations, the cinemas continue to grow steadily and strongly due to the product and service excellence. The next two markets for expansion are the UAE and Saudi Arabia. We are also evaluating the feasibility of expanding into some other markets within the Middle East.”
Cinépolis takes a strategic approach to selecting locations. In Bahrain, for example, Cinépolis is located at the Atrium Mall in Al Janabiyah, Sar that lies at the Bahrain-Saudi causeway. “It is a nascent catchment with no other cinemas in the northern governorate,” Shukla explained. “The theatre, in addition to the neighbourhood residents, also sees a lot of Saudi visitors over the weekends.”
Having that said, he pointed out that Cinépolis is pragmatic about every opening. “At Cinépolis, we are agnostic to locations; whichever project takes off first we are open to launching the theatres there. In the GCC, Bahrain led the pack. Our second theatre in the GCC opened at Landmark Group’s Oasis Mall in Sohar. The strategy for the UAE is quite different, where we will launch a flagship location first. The plan is to open three-to-five locations in the UAE. However, over time, a greater number of theatres are planned for Saudi Arabia, a nascent market for cinemas.”
Within the next two years, Cinépolis plans to open 150 screens; initially skewed towards Bahrain, Oman and the UAE, although towards the latter half Saudi Arabia will dominate.
Watsons to open 20 new stores in the GCC
In 2020, global health & beauty retailer AS Watson Group signed its
April 29, 2024 | By Rupkatha B / 
Mahalle began its operations in 2022 as an “Authentic Turkish Grocery in
“Retail is a people’s business. When building a retail brand or the
From being one of the first retailers in Dubai to ban single-use
For starters, Rabbit is a growing e-commerce grocery platform in Egypt always
In 2024 grocery retail major Choithrams has achieved several milestones underscoring its
Industry pioneers are embracing a comprehensive strategy that integrates consumer insights, digital
The regional grocery retail market is evolving fast keeping pace with constantly
From ethical and local sourcing to adopting cutting-edge technologies to curb food
The regional grocery retail market is becoming more and more diverse, offering
Spinneys, the leading premium fresh food retailer, has announced the opening of
Spinneys has announced the launch of The Kitchen by Spinneys, its first-ever
/ 
In what comes as a significant announcement, Middle East based eyewear majors
In the leisure and entertainment industry, where human touch and in-person interactions
Emirati Gen Z women are seeking collaborative, culturally diverse and creatively enriching
Kutubna Cultural Center, launched in 2023, has quickly become a beacon of
GMG’s Everyday Goods – Retail division celebrates expansion milestone hitting 60 stores
Among several others, three key factors have fuelled the growth of homegrown
“Our relentless pursuit towards achieving operational excellence, coupled with our unwavering dedication
Empowering women, transforming communities: The rise of female-led businesses in Times Square Center
In its central Dubai location, Times Square Center stands not just as
One of UAE’s leading fresh food retailers, Spinneys has announced its intention
Previous Article
