In response to recent research released by PWC that the number of cinema screens in the Middle East are set to jump 38.4% to 1,800 in the next 3-5 years (up from 1,300 currently), the first-ever MENA Cinema Forum will be held this weekend at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai, October 28-29.
The MENA Cinema Forum will be the first ever business conference of its kind for the regional market and will be participated by 45 speakers and experts, 450 delegates and 90 sponsors, including high-performance sound insulation specialists from Farrat, who will act as headline Strategic Acoustic Sponsor.
The conference will offer a detailed research on the current situation and future growth potential of the cinema industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, in front of an audience of 450 industry professionals from over 45 counties.
Ryan Arbabi, Technical Director of Farrat, and keynote speaker at the MENA Cinema Forum, commented on the decision to put Farrat at the forefront of the conference as Strategic Acoustic Sponsor, “This is the first event of its kind in the region and pulls a much wider audience than we’re typically used to speaking to.
“We’re really looking forward to using the event as a great showcase for our new contractor-focused products and services. I’m particularly pleased to be able to use the event to pre-launch CineFLOOR – our new line of Cinema-specific acoustic floating floors.”
Leila Masinaei, Managing Director of GM Events, organiser of the MENA Cinema Forum, added that, “The 38.4% additional cinema screens will help the entertainment market to grow faster as additional capacities will be high enough to meet the growing demand that is expected to come from key countries in the MENA region.
“The recent liberalisation and reform initiatives across countries in the MENA region have opened up a lot of opportunities for industry that will see the biggest boom in the entertainment and cinema industry.”
More than US$3.54 billion investment in cinema screens across the Gulf is expected to help the region’s cinema industry expand manifold, following Saudi Arabia’s historic decision to open up the sector 35 years after cinemas were banned in the Kingdom.
Oliver Farrell, CEO of Farrat, also commented on Farrat’s commitment to the new Total Acoustic Responsibility service in the MENA region, “In partnership with Sharps Redmore, we’re going to be announcing a brand new initiative exclusive to the MENA region.
“It is unprecedented in its scope and something only world-experts in cinema design such as Farrat and Sharps Redmore could offer, so watch out for a number of exciting announcements from us across the course of the event”.
The eventful conference will be full of activities including workshops, break-out meetings, site visits and major announcements, bringing together the entire spectrum of stakeholders involved within the cinema sector including, but not limited to; local and international governments, investment companies, mall owners, cinema operators and exhibitors, suppliers and industry leaders, to address the growing requirements of the cinema market within the region.
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Farrat will be exhibiting at STAND 01 throughout the 2-day conference.
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