After being banned for close to thirty-five years, Saudi Arabia will reopen cinemas.

Speaking today, Minister of Culture and Information Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad confirmed the long-rumoured news and said that opening cinemas in Saudi Arabia "will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification; by developing the broader cultural sector we will create new employment and training opportunities, as well as enriching the Kingdom’s entertainment options.”

Cinemas shuttered in Saudi Arabia in 1982 following heavy lobbying from clerics, however the country's General Entertainment Authority has said that the country hopes to have entertainments that "will be like 99% of what is going on in London and New York.” The reoopening of cinemas in Saudi Arabia is just one of many relatively progressive steps taken by the country. Just this year, women were finally granted the right to drive.

Local reports from Saudi Arabia, according to Deadline, have it that cinemas will open in the country as soon as March.

 

Via Deadline