Embarking on an ambitious plan to quadruple the number of screens it has by 2016, UAE movie theater chain VOX Cinemas may add Qatar to its base, the National reports.

“We have a few opportunities in Qatar that we are pursuing that we will be announcing pretty shortly,” said Cameron Mitchell, chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, the conglomerate that controls VOX.

Previously, an official at Doha Festival City told Doha News that VOX Cinemas is expected to be a tenant in the 500 shop-development.

Mitchell continues:

Qatar, he said, is “under screened” and lacks international grade cinemas. “The cinemas there are quite old whereas we are entering the market with 100 per cent digital, more 3D, bigger screens, more VIP,” said Mr Mitchell.

The company, which plans to open cinemas in Beirut and Oman this year, are also looking at Egypt and Bahrain, though the latter already has enough cinemas in the short term, the official said.

Competition

Whether VOX could actually successfully make inroads here remains to be seen, as Qatar’s movie theater market is expected to grow significantly over the next few years.

Earlier this month, Qatar Media Services (q.media) announced that it had fully acquired UAE-based Gulf Film, owner of a film distribution company and Grand Cinemas, the Middle East’s largest cinema chain.

Q.media, which acquired a majority stake in the company last year, has previously announced plans to open some 50 multiplex cinemas in Qatar over the next three years. It also plans to expand operations across the MENA region. 

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo courtesy of VOX Cinema on Facebook