An Imax theatre will start functioning at the Pearl Qatar community development next year, Imax Corporation authorities announced in Dubai yesterday.
The new venture in Doha will be one of the three theatres to be opened in the GCC as part of a revenue sharing arrangement between Imax Corporation and Dubai-based Gulf Film. The new theatre at the Pearl Qatar is expected to commence operations in the first quarter of next year, an official of Gulf Film said.
Presently, an Imax theatre with nine screens is already functioning at The Villaggio Mall.  Under the terms of the agreement, the other theatres will be located in existing complexes in Dubai and Bahrain.
“Since upgrading to the Imax digital system in 2011, our Imax theatre in Dubai has dramatically increased its business and has had a major impact on our overall box office performance,” said Jaber al-Ansari, managing director, Gulf Film.“Today’s agreement, which is a direct result of this success, marks a milestone in the region’s film entertainment landscape and highlights the growing demand for Imax among audiences in the Middle East. As we expand our circuit, Imax will continue to serve as a key differentiator in our offering, bringing movie-goers the world’s most immersive cinematic experience.”
The deal brings to four, Gulf Film’s total Imax commitments and brings to 10 the total number of commercial Imax theatres in the Middle East.
“With 50 percent of the population under 25 and a growing appetite for Hollywood blockbusters, we view the Middle East as a region with tremendous growth potential and, with today’s agreement, we are capitalising on these opportunities and executing against our goal of international network expansion,” said Imax CEO Richard L Gelfond.