Emaar Malls Group in JV with Cathay Organisation

To be based in Dubai, Reel Entertainment LLC will develop and manage all the cineplexes in the shopping malls that Emaar Malls Group plans to develop in the emerging markets of the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. Initially, Reel Entertainment will open two cineplexes in Dubai within the next year, at The Dubai Mall and the Dubai Marina Mall.

Rashid Zakaria Doleh, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Malls Group LLC, and Ms Choo Meileen, Executive Director, Cathay Organisation, signed the joint venture agreement in Dubai. Emaar Malls will have 75 per cent stake in Reel Entertainment LLC with the rest to be owned by Cathay Organisation.

Reel Entertainment will open the largest cinema complex in Dubai at The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment destinations. The 'megaplex' will be Dubai's largest cinema with 22-screens and have a total of about 3,000 seats. Covering an area of 110,000 sq ft, the megaplex at The Dubai Mall will feature four VIP halls, one Premier hall, an Arthouse hall and 16 regular halls.

The largest, the Premier hall, is ideal for special events and can seat up to 350 persons. Regular halls can seat anywhere from 70 to 250.