As part of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's plan to create a more open Saudi Arabia, AMC Theatres — the world's largest movie exhibitor — has won the first commercial cinema license in the country since a ban was placed on the industry 35 years ago. The government had previously signaled that it was laying the groundwork for lifting the ban in December.
In conjunction with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, AMC plans to open the country's first post-ban movie theater on April 18 in Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District, per The Hollywood Reporter. Some issues, like whether or not men and women can sit together and which movies will be permitted, are still being worked out, though AMC CEO Adam Aron said he does not expect the theaters will be segregated.
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