30 October 2007
Cathay Organisation and Emaar Malls Group LLC sealed a deal in a joint venture company recently in Dubai which was endorsed by Mr Rashid Zakaria Doleh, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Malls Group LLC and Ms Choo Meileen, Executive Director of Cathay Organisation.
The joint venture company, Reel Entertainment LLC will be based in Dubai and will manage the development of all cineplexes in the 150 malls that Emaar Malls Group plans to open across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian Subcontinent. Reel Entertainment LLC is 75% owned by Emaar Malls Group and 25% by Cathay Organisation. Initially, Reel Entertainment is investing some USD30million to open 30 cinema screens in Dubai, at The Dubai Mall and the Dubai Marina Mall.
Cathay Organisation’s long history in the movie entertainment industry places the company in a perfect position to provide its expertise in the set-up, design and management of the cineplexes.
Says Ms Choo Meileen, “We are delighted to be the first Singapore exhibitor to go beyond the shores of South East Asia. It is very exciting to be entering a new market. We are looking forward to a wonderful partnership with Emaar and it is indeed a privilege to be working with them. We are pleased to be able to showcase what we are best known for; a cinematic experience that would be memorable and distinctively different. ”
Just ahead is the opening of one of the world’s largest malls, The Dubai Mall, in September 2008. The Dubai Mall, the flagship project for Emaar Malls Group is a 12.1 million sq ft shopper’s paradise that will feature 1,200 specialty stores in distinct retail category precincts and will include extensive dining and entertainment facilities including 150 food and beverage outlets, a world-class Aquarium and the world’s largest indoor Gold Souk. The Dubai Mall is Emaar’s flagship mall and anchors the prestigious Downtown Burj Dubai development, also home to the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Dubai.
Reel Entertainment will open Dubai’s largest cinema complex at The Dubai Mall with 22 screens. The megaplex will include four premier class halls, an arthouse cinema hall and 17 commercial halls totalling some 3,000 seats. The largest commercial hall will seat 350 whilst the premier class halls will seat between 30 to 34. Occupying 110,000 sq ft, the deluxe megaplex, which has yet to be named, will in typical Cathay style, offer the best cinematic experience.
Reel Entertainment will also open a cineplex featuring 8 screens with seating for 1,200 in the Dubai Marina Mall. The Dubai Marina Mall is in the heart of Dubai’s master-planned waterfront community and will feature 160 stores and a revolutionary 7-storey Gourmet Tower.
“Reel Entertainment LLC will redefine the big-cinema experience by employing the latest digital audio-visual technology and offering superior service standards including on-line ticket booking facilities, automated kiosks and box-office counters,” said Mr Doleh. “Cathay Organisation is renowned for the excellent cinematic experience the company provides through Cathay Cineplexes, and the cinemas at The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall will offer to Dubai residents an unparalleled entertainment option.”
The Dubai Mall will open in September 2008 and the Dubai Marina Mall is set to open in late 2008.
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