How to get a movie ticket in Riyadh: Try early, try often

Film fans celebrate the end of Saudi Arabia’s 35-year ban on cinemas. (AFP)
Updated 09 September 2018
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How to get a movie ticket in Riyadh: Try early, try often

  • VOX plans to open 600 screens in the Kingdom over the next five years. But until then, it’s a case of “first come, first served.”

RIYADH: Ever since movie theaters opened in Riyadh in April — bringing an end to the Kingdom’s 35-year ban on public screenings — cinema fans have been scrambling to get to the movies.

Tickets have been regularly selling out online to movies at the only two theaters in Riyadh: AMC in King Abdullah District and VOX in Riyadh Park Mall.  

“I couldn’t seem to book tickets,” said Latifa Al-Dossary, a university student. “They’re always sold out or the timings available are usually early morning. But after trying many times — excessively, obsessively — I made it my mission to get myself and my friends tickets and I succeeded, finally.”

Mona Khalid, a physician at a government hospital, has also had a hard time finding a time to take her family to the movies. “VOX sells tickets for the upcoming three days. I found out after many failed attempts at buying tickets, that early mornings are usually open and the best time to go with the kids,” she said. 

There are also limits to how many tickets filmgoers can buy. At AMC, the maximum number of tickets in one booking is limited to six. However, VOX offers a maximum of 10 tickets per booking. 

VOX plans to open 600 screens in the Kingdom over the next five years. But until then, it’s a case of “first come, first served.”


Saudi ministers welcome next phase of Gaza plan, Trump’s Board of Peace

Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi ministers welcome next phase of Gaza plan, Trump’s Board of Peace

  • Officials highlight the urgent need for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Gaza
  • Kingdom’s Cabinet reiterate support for ceasefire agreement, integration of Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian state

RIYADH: The Saudi Cabinet welcomed the second phase of the peace plan for the Gaza Strip, supporting the establishment of a Palestinian committee to administer the region and the announcement of the Board of Peace by US President Donald Trump.

The session was held on Tuesday in Riyadh and was chaired by King Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Ministers highlighted the urgent need for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Gaza. They called for the return of the Palestinian Authority to the territory and the end of the Israeli occupation, to establish an independent Palestinian state in line with UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the two-state solution.

The Saudi Council of Ministers supported the ceasefire agreement and the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian state, reaffirming their commitment to civil peace and Syria's sovereignty.

In Yemen, they noted that Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to end the crisis and has launched a package of projects and programs worth $507 million to develop key sectors of health, education, and infrastructure.

In 2025, Saudi Arabia ranked first among Arab countries and second globally on a UN list of donors to Yemen, the SPA added.

The ministers also highlighted that most non-oil activities in the Kingdom have achieved annual growth rates ranging from five to ten percent over the past five years, in line with promoting sustainability and the Vision 2030.

They reviewed and approved several memoranda of understanding signed with Pakistan, Iraq, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the promotion of multiple Saudi officials to senior positions across various ministries.