Cineco, Majid Al Futtaim form 50:50 joint venture

Manama : Bahrain Cinema Company (Cineco) and Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas have announced a joint venture which will operate and expand the current 8,000 square metre cinema at Majid Al Futtaim’s City Centre Bahrain in Manama. 

The joint venture will be owned 50 per cent by Bahrain Cinema Company and 50pc by Majid Al Futtaim Cinema Bahrain and will be subject to a number of conditions, including the approval of the shareholders. Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas is the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa. 

The new entertainment Megaplex is expected to boast countless points of difference, including a large 4DX cinema, and the exclusive cinema dining experience ThEATre by Rhodes, the brainchild of Michelin Star celebrity chef Gary Rhodes and the first of its kind in Bahrain, along with countless other innovative movie experiences.

Speaking about the announcement, Ahmed Rashed, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Cinema Company commented: “We are confident that our new partnership will see the City Centre Bahrain location become one of the world’s most iconic entertainment destinations with the addition of new screens and countless new innovative and exclusive cinema experiences.”

Discussing the Joint Venture partnership, Cameron Mitchell, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim – VOX Cinemas said: “Cineco has been a forerunner in the entertainment business in Qatar and Bahrain and is perfectly aligned with VOX Cinemas’ passion for innovation and entertainment excellence.”

With 96 cinema screens in Qatar and Bahrain and almost 50 years’ experience, Bahrain Cinema Company said it offers the latest in technology and comfort to customers. The current move will see the VOX Cinemas brand operating 380 screens across eight countries before the end of 2017, doubling the company’s screen count in less than two years, and creating a world class chain of cinemas across the MENA region.