Saudi arabia

The first commercial cinema on Saudi Arabian soil in 35 years will be open by the end of April, with another 30-40 to follow in 15 cities over the next five years. The drawcard opening feature will be the Marvel action thriller Black Panther.The kingdom closed its cinemas in the early 1980s following a drive by Islamic hardliners, who see cinemas as a threat to cultural and religious identity. Saudi Arabia’s highest-ranking cleric warned in January, 2017 of the “depravity” of cinemas, saying they would corrupt morals.But authorities appear to be shrugging off the threat. Chinese-owned AMC Entertainment is responsible for the commissioning of the new theatres, according to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture. “The decision is part of Saudi Arabia’s social and economic reform programme under Vision 2030, spearheaded by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is on an official visit to the United States,” … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia Readies to Open First Cinema in 35 Years

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia may have to pay for continuing America’s military presence in war-ravaged Syria. “We’ve almost completed that task [of defeating the Islamic State] and we’ll be making a determination very quickly, in coordination with others in the area, as to what we’ll do,” Trump told reporters. “Saudi Arabia is very interested in our decision, and I said, ‘Well, you know, you want us to stay, maybe you’re going to have to pay.’”Without providing a timeframe, President Trump doubled down on wanting the U.S. military to “get out” of Syria. “It’s time,” the commander-in-chief responded when asked if he was inclined to pull U.S. forces out of the country.“We were very successful against [the Islamic State]. We’ll be successful against anybody militarily. But sometimes it’s time to come back home, and we’re thinking … [Read more...] about Trump to Saudi Arabia: ‘Maybe You’re Going to Have to Pay’ for U.S. Military Presence in Syria

World Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Saudi Arabia is planning to open its first permanent movie theater since they were banned 35 years ago, despite opposition from the country’s powerful religious authorities who consider the move “immoral.” The Saudi Ministry of Culture announced Wednesday that U.S. chain AMC has won the license to operate the theater. It will open in the capital city Riyadh on April 18. According to The Guardian, theaters will not be segregated by gender, and the first screening will be Marvel’s superhero blockbuster Black Panther. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is spending big on Saudi Arabia’s entertainment industry as part of his ambitious Vision 2030 project, committing $64 billion to the sector over the next 10 years. This will facilitate, among others things, as many as 350 theaters with over 2,500 screens by 2030. Recommended Slideshows 51 In Pictures: The 50 Most Powerful Military Forces in the World 44 In … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia to Open ‘Immoral, Atheistic’ Theater 35 Years After the Last One Was Shut Down

World Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Saudi Arabia has launched a charm offensive of princes to woo U.S. businesses into the Kingdom. On the heels of a high-profile visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to the United States, his relative prince Khaled bin Alwaleed is in New York promoting a project he’s launching in Saudi Arabia with National Geographic: an animated aquarium. National Geographic’s Encounter: Ocean Odyssey, which employed award-winning artists to create an interactive experience so visitors feel like they’re walking through the natural habitats of marine life, only opened its doors in New York in October. But now it’s teaming up with Saudi Arabia’s Entertainment Authority and Prince Khaled’s venture capital firm to bring an even bigger version to Riyadh in 2019. The installations of floating manatees and stingrays, created by the same artists who designed the dragons for Game of Thrones, seem like the … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia’s Vegan Prince Will Bring an Animated Aquarium to Riyadh As the Kingdom Tries to Modernize

Both Saudi Arabia and Egypt have called on militant organization Hamas to end the annual weekly protests it is holding for the “Great March of Return,” according to an Egyptian source. An Egyptian Foreign Ministry official was anonymously quoted as saying that, in exchange for halting the protests, Egypt would ensure that the Rafah border crossing, which Egypt controls, would be regularly opened. The source said that the agreement had come under the direction of the Saudis.“The situation in the Gaza Strip is nearing an explosion towards anyone blockading it,” the source said, “and therefore there is a fear that Palestinian anger will turn towards Egypt in the coming weeks.”  The source also added that Saudi and Egyptian officials had opened contacts with Hamas leaders to urge calm in Gaza. Read the full story here. … [Read more...] about Report: Egypt, Saudi Arabia Urge Hamas to End Gaza Border Riots