- Cinemacity Al Qana will feature Abu Dhabi’s largest cinema screen (26m)
- Includes state-of-the-art custom-designed theatre featuring ‘the best picture and sound technology in the world’
- Introducing a new concept with the first ‘Presidential Theatre’
- The exceptional facility will have 15 cinema screens and is set to open in 2020
New Abu Dhabi social dining and entertainment destination, Al Qana, today announced it will be home to the world’s first Cinemacity “CityMAX” theatre. The cinema will include Abu Dhabi’s largest customized PLF (Premium Large Format) screen, when Cinemacity Al Qana opens at the hotspot in 2020.
The announcement was made at the occasion of a signing ceremony at the Al Qana site, between Fouad Mashal, CEO of Al Barakah International Investment, developers of Al Qana; Hammad Atassi, CEO of operator Xclusive Cinemas (Holding) and GM of Cinemacity Al Qana and Stuart Gissing, General Manager of Al Qana.
Fouad Mashal, CEO of Al Barakah International Investment and developer of Al Qana said: “There’s a strong cinema culture in the UAE that has been an integral part of our community life for decades. It’s a ritual we want to keep and further develop with the introduction of Cinemacity Al Qana, a key element of our social dining and entertainment offering at Al Qana. It will be an impressive stand-alone experience that contributes to the exceptional, world-class destination we are introducing to the heart of Abu Dhabi in Q4 2020.”
Mashal added: “Our cinema also aims to support the UAE Vision 2020, by regularly promoting heritage and cultural films, as it strives to forge the UAE Government’s pledge to preserve a cohesive society that is proud of the Emirati identity.”
Hammad Atassi, CEO of Xclusive Cinemas said: “The evolution of entertainment has given people the ability to watch movies in the palm of their hand, but nothing compares to the feeling of watching a movie in a cinema theatre on the big screen – the way it was meant to be seen.”
“Along with our variety of world-class viewing experiences, we’re excited to unveil our first custom-designed Premium Large Format (PLF) theatre, CityMAX, in the prime location of Al Qana. It will feature a luxurious state-of-the-art theatre equipped with the largest screen in Abu Dhabi and provide the highest quality picture and sound technology in the world. We will also have a high-end VIP Cinema level, exclusive in its offerings to elite cinemagoers of the Emirate, with a Presidential cinema that provides world-class sophistication, design and audio-visual offering. Once you watch a movie here, you won’t want to do it anywhere else. Cinemacity Al Qana will become the favourite place for the Emirate’s cinemagoers.”
The new entertainment hub will feature 15 screens, including the latest 26-metre-wide screen. In order to provide a unique and powerful experience, it will feature a dual RGB laser projector and Dolby ATMOS surround sound. The bespoke design of the new CityMAX Theatre, within Cinemacity Al Qana, will bring in the best picture and sound quality in the industry. This new cinema will have the capacity to seat 386 people in a number of classes. This includes a seating section with full leather recliners and a Club class, with the comfort of butler service bringing refreshments right to your seat. The entire megaplex will seat over 2,000 people simultaneously across all theatres in multiple types of experiences and classes not seen before in the UAE.
In addition, there will be three high-end VIP Cinemas with dedicated private lounges, for exclusive screenings and premieres, all with full recliners and in-seat dining service. Cinemacity Al Qana will unveil a new concept with the exclusive ‘Presidential Theatre’, a luxurious lounge with high-end laser projection, Dolby ATMOS, and its own butler service. A bespoke menu of gourmet foods along with mouth-watering classics has also been designed to match the requirements and needs of the ‘Presidential Theatre,’ and VVIP Cinema guests.
Cinemacity Al Qana will be ideally suited to host the latest blockbuster screenings, with red carpet moments fresh to the UAE. Customers will not struggle to see the new hits either, as there will be an additional nine regular theatres with tiered seating and accessibility options for people with determination.Children will be well-catered for too, with a dedicated Kids Cinema specifically styled and designed with comfortable and colourful seating along with its private kids’ lounge. Screening of family-friendly films that will keep youngsters entertained and enthralled is at the heart of the kids’ area. A private space for birthdays and events for additional entertainment will also be included for the little ones.
With Al Qana’s year-round agenda to enrich the customer experience with culture, festivals and fun activities, there will be an outdoor cinematic amphitheatre playing host to events and entertainment over the winter months to thrill guests and make the district a must-visit for movie lovers. A Graffiti lounge overlooking the amphitheatre and outdoor landscaped gardens will feature a vibrant custom designed wall by Emirati-based graffiti artists to complement the energetic community of Cinemacity Al Qana and will be a destination for exclusive events from film premieres to pop up concepts and cultural events.
Abu Dhabi has been investing in infrastructure for creative industries, including promotion of local production and content creation. Between 2015 and 2020, it is estimated that locally produced television and film projects will have generated around Dh400m to the UAE economy, supporting jobs and according to PwC, added an extra 300,000 visitors per year to the Abu Dhabi tourism economy from those interested in visiting film locations and the sites of movies produced within the capital.
