2 more cinema complexes planned in Muscat -
By A Staff Reporter -
MUSCAT — Muscat’s moviegoers now have another entertainment hotspot to indulge in their favourite pastime, and watch the latest international releases at the city’s newest shopping and dining hub — Muscat Grand Mall.
City Cinemas belongs to Oman Arab Cinema Company LLC, an organisation with more than four decades of successful operations as the nation’s premier operator cinema company.
The group is now expanding its footprint in the country with the opening yesterday of its fifth multiplex at Muscat Grand Mall (MGM) in Bausher, adding to existing multiplexes at Shatti al Qurum, Ruwi, Sur and Sohar.
The 3-screen multiplex is set to become the city’s must-go destination for Hollywood, Bollywood and Arabic movies.
It has several firsts to its credit. The new destination is a departure from the existing format of standalone multiplexes to one that it is integrated with a shopping mall, providing wholesome entertainment to shoppers and their families.
The City Cinema multiplex at MGM features three screens with an aggregate seating capacity of 294 seats.
Yet another first is the introduction of a Gold Class hall that accommodates up to 24 people in an auditorium which, while offering home-like convenience boasts of all comforts that are available in a theatre with matching visual and sitting comfort.
“The Gold Class is first of its kind in the country,” said Aqeel Jawad Sultan, Managing Director.
“We are proud to offer Oman such world-class facilities,” he commented at a press briefing to announce the opening of the new visual entertainment landmark.
This is yet another step in the direction of providing customer delight in every experience.
The management feels that it will enjoy great patronage from the discerning viewers. The multiplex will also serve food and beverage counters offering a wide variety of choices, he added.
According to P Chandrasekhr, Group General Manager, Jawad Sultan Group of Companies, the world is witnessing a preference for smaller and compact cinemas that offer a greater value proposition for movie enthusiasts.
“City Cinema at MGM has been created in this continuing ethos. The management is keenly mulling the introduction of Mobile Booking and automatic seat blocking through SMS, and introduction of kiosks at third party locations, soon after the Holy Month of Ramadhan.
“This will enable patrons decide which movie to watch at their own pace and time,” Chandrasekhr said here.
Outlining plans for further growth, he said City Cinemas will shortly open their next multiplex with three screens (with a total of 595 seats) at the Lulu Hypermarket in Al Buraimi.
Before the end of October 
2012, the multiplex in Salalah with 3 screens (offering a total of 594 seats) is expected to be ready at the Salalah Tourism Complex.
Also on the cards are two more multiplexes that are proposed to come up at suitable locations between Bausher and Al Athaiba, said Aqeel Jawad Sultan.
While one of the centres will be a five-screen complex, the other is proposed to be a three-screen complex. Both multiplexes are due to come into service within the next two years.
Also envisaged are facilities offering Imax style cinema experiences and innovative 4D viewing technology.
To celebrate its grand launch, City Cinema at MGM opened with the world’s first screening of The Amazing Spiderman (3D), at 11:30 pm yesterday.
