Text: Anastasia Zorina
It is known for certain that the first organized film show in the history of mankind took place on December 28, 1895 in the Paris Grand Cafe. It was here, in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, at No. 14 on Kapucinov Boulevard, that the 35 people who paid a franc for hitherto unknown entertainment saw for the first time how factory workers and a train from the Lumiere brothers were rapidly approaching them on a white canvas. Cinema came to the Emirates more than half a century later.
Cinema entered the Gulf countries through advanced Bahrain, where already in the 30s of the last century the inhabitants of Manama gathered in an impromptu movie theater, discussing the perspective movement of objects along the plane with hookah and tea.
It is said that when half a century ago, the only electric generator was installed in Al Ain at all, the first thing the father of the nation, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan set up an impromptu movie theater, where from time to time on the wall of his house a primitive film projector gave out an Egyptian painting "The Black Knight " This was the only film available to the inhabitants of the oasis. And even when they could safely play it in their faces, there was a full house in the Zayed Cinema.
But the Emirates got used to going to the movies quickly and made them almost a national tradition: in the country today there are plenty of seats in cinema halls per capita.
Emirati Blueing: General
Almost all cinemas in the Emirates belong to two companies - Grand Cinemas and CineStar.
Halls: cinema halls differ little from each other. Differences are most often felt in the existing public, the lack of parking spaces and the location of the cinema. But this applies to traditional cinema halls. If you want to watch a movie in IMAX 3D format, then the choice is small: these rooms will be marked separately below.
Repertoire: since there is censorship in the Emirates, and films are delivered to cinemas centrally, the main current releases are parallel to all cinemas. However, Grand Cinemas’s repertoire is usually richer. Some films that were shot from the show in the most popular halls can often be found in others, it happens that in the neighboring emirate.
Information on film programs with movie announcements and ratings of their popularity with the public can be found on the Grand Cinemas and CineStar websites, in listings on www.timeoutdubai.com/dubai/films/ and // www.timeoutabudhabi.com/films/, as well as on the resource //movies.theemiratesnetwork. com / in_theaters.php.
As practice shows, even film distributors do not always correctly indicate the start time of a session. This is rare, but it happens.
Tickets: ticket prices range from 25 to 200 dirhams per person (US $ 7 and US $ 55, respectively), depending on the comfort of the soft chair, its distance from the screen (which is not practiced in all movie theaters) and the availability of additional services. Tickets for IMAX 3D lounges start at 70 dirhams (US $ 14). It is not accepted to book tickets in advance for sessions on working days, but it is possible - by phone, through the sites of Grand Cinemas and CineStar. On weekends, when it seems that everyone in the evenings goes exclusively to the cinema, it is strongly recommended that you book tickets in advance to popular movie theaters for new releases.
Tickets purchased in this way are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
Privileges: each film distributor offers a number of privileged options, ranging from discounted wholesale passes to special days and hours when discounts apply.
Language: the vast majority of films in emirate cinemas are in English with Arabic subtitles. There are films in Arabic (sometimes with English subtitles) and in the languages of the Indian subcontinent (with Arabic subtitles). There are films in other languages, accompanied by either English or Arabic subtitles. Information about the language of the film can be found in the annotation for each specific release.
Etiquette: in local cinemas, the etiquette adopted in many countries did not take root: here one can litter popcorn without a twinge of conscience, talk loudly, conduct conversations on a cell phone and slurp no less loudly. A well-educated person can deal with this phenomenon, but, usually, this does not end in favor of upbringing. Time: usually, the first session starts after 11.00, the last - at 23.30 or 23.50. During the first 10-15 minutes there is a display of commercials.
Russian Emirates gathered their experience of visiting Dubai cinemas and rated the main ones by the main indicators - differences from their own kind, availability of free parking spaces and proximity to good food service outlets. We evaluated cinemas in the evenings and on weekends, when everybody wants a movie.
Grand Cinemas - "Always Interesting!"
Cinema Systems Grand cinemas owned by film distributor Gulf Film LLC, created in 1989 by two Indian subcontinent.
Network: 15 cinemas in the UAE (Dubai - 6, Abu Dhabi - 2, Sharjah - 3, Al Ain - 2, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah - one each), 160 screens, more than 30,000 seats. The first cinema system - Grand Cineplex in Dubai, was opened in 2000.
Tickets and Repertoire: www.grandcinemas.com
E-tickets: can be ordered online at all cinemas in Dubai (except Grand Metroplex) and at Grand Sahara in Sharjah. For the order of each electronic ticket an additional 2 drx is charged.
Seating Classes: Grand Class (VVIP, Grand Festival Cinemas only), VIP and regular.
Privileges for bank customers: Manhattan Card from Standard Chartered Bank (free tickets to all cinemas of the Grand Cinemas system), ABN Amro (every Friday at 5 p.m. special sessions at Grand Metroplex, Grand Mega Mall, Grand Abu Dhabi Mall), VIP Credit Card from Mashreq Bank (free tickets for any sessions with most movie theaters of the system).
Special offers: Membership in Club Grand Cinemas Club (gives the opportunity to order tickets through the website and receive them through self-service kiosks, participate in contests, discounts); "Cinema on Monday" (for the session on Monday, at 19.30, to the cinema №7, the second ticket is free); Gift certificates; "Corporate screening" (screening of the film "on order" for groups from 100 to 500 people); "Birthday at the cinema" (showing the film "on order" for groups of 50 to 100 people).
Dubai Grand Cinemas Cinemas
*****
Grand Festival Cinemas, Garhud area / Dubai Festival City Mall
Tel: 04-232 8328,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 12
Ticket price: from 30 to 200 drx
What is good: the cinema, which opened in early August, is the only cinema in the Middle East where films are shown in digital format, which gives the perfect picture and sound. And indeed it is!
For lovers of everything exclusive and comfortable, the Grand Class is provided: large, leather chairs with adjustable settings for bending the body, ample legroom, free popcorn and soft drinks, and voila! - the services of a waiter and a restaurant menu, dishes from which you can absorb during the session.
Here you can almost always find parking. Until. Near the cinema there is a huge selection of catering places and shops.
****
Grand Megaplex, Jebel Ali, Dubai Marina / Ibn Battuta Mall
Tel: 04-366 9898,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 21
Ticket price: from 25 to 50 drx
What is good: IMAX hall. The screen size in the IMAX room is 22 meters wide and 16 meters high. The “screen” occupies almost the entire space in front of the viewer, there are few rows in the hall, they are close to the screen and have a slight inclination to the horizon. IMAX format films are recorded on a special film, and sound - on digital media without compression and goes through 6 channels, creating the maximum "presence effect". In the IMAX room, it's good to watch action movies.
Special offer - "IMAX Day" - every Monday in the IMAX cinema - two films for 70 drx (the usual price of the session is 50 drx).
Due to its remoteness from the densely populated areas of Dubai and the presence of 21 halls, this cinema is famous for the lack of crowds. But parking is still bad. But there are some good restaurants, including a couple for a romantic dinner.
***
Grand Mercato, Jumeirah 1 / Mercato Center Shopping Center
Tel: 04-349 9713,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 7
Ticket price: from 25 to 50 drx
What is good: location and public. Like any movie theater in a shopping center, it is awash with people. Parking in the evenings and weekends is hard to find. Within walking distance there are only fast food kiosks and a couple of normal restaurants, so those who wish to eat well either have to wait for a table or move outside the mall.
***
Grand Cineplex, Bar Dubai / Near Grand Hyatt
Tel: 04-324 2000,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 12
Ticket price: from 30 to 50 drx
What is good: one of the most popular cinemas, always filled with people, is known for its spacious halls. But due to the small space for common use, the weekend is very crowded. The public is the most motley. Parking is not just difficult, but almost impossible. There are only fast food kiosks and a couple of cafes, but a good music and video store is working.
***
Grand Metroplex, Al Safa, / Nearby the Metropolitan Hotel
Tel: 04-343 8383,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 8
Ticket price: from 25 to 55 drx
What is good: once the most popular cinema in Dubai, now it has gone into the shadow of new cinema complexes. But this is its undoubted advantage: here you can almost always watch a new film in a half-empty room. True, there are clearly not enough parking spaces here. Lunch and dinner are almost nowhere to take, perhaps only in the Italian restaurant Don Corleone.
***
Grand Cinecity, Deira / Al Ghurair City Shopping Center
Tel: 04-228 9898,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 8
Ticket price: from 25 to 50 drx
What is good: the lack of people in the week. Crowds, mostly composed of people from the Indian subcontinent and the Philippines, appear here on weekends. Also in this cinema in abundance show good Indian and Arabic paintings. There is a problem with finding parking even on weekdays and hours. In the shopping center itself, there are more than a dozen cafes and restaurants that are usual for Dubai, which are suitable for a snack, but not for a romantic dinner.
CineStar - "This is what I want!"
CineStar, a joint venture between Australia and the United Arab Emirates, lags far behind Grand Cinemas in terms of reach, but its cinemas are the most popular due to its favorable location.
Network: 4 cinemas in the UAE (Dubai - 2, Abu Dhabi - 1, Ajman - 1)
Tickets and Repertoire: www.cinestarcinemas.com
E-tickets: can be ordered through the site at all cinemas in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For the order of each electronic ticket an additional 2 drx is charged.
Seating Classes: Gold Class (VVIP, in the Cinestar Cinemas Mall of the Emirates and Cinestar Cinemas Marina Mall, there is a special waiting room), VIP and regular.
Privileges for bank customers: holders of Visa Platinum and Visa Infinity cards, regardless of the bank (when buying a ticket in Gold Class, get a second ticket for free), Visa and Visa Electron (when buying a ticket - participation in the monthly drawing of two tickets in Gold Class), HSBC bank customers ( when buying one regular ticket, the second - for free).
Special offers: Membership in the Star Club (gives the opportunity to order tickets through the site, participation in the "Regular Customer" program, discounts on food and drinks, invitations to exclusive shows); "Regular customer" program (marks in the card for 10 cells are put when buying tickets, 5 marks - free popcorn, 10 marks - movie ticket); Gift certificates; corporate events (including the screening of the movie "on order"), children's parties with animation and cakes.
For mothers who are sitting with a child, at 9.30 in the morning on Tuesdays there is a session during which the nanny will look after the children.
CineStar Cinemas in Dubai
****
Cinestar Cinemas Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha / Mall of the Emirates
Tel: 04-341 4222,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 14
Ticket price: from 30 to 100 drx
What is good: if you do not take into account that this is the most popular cinema in Dubai today, which certainly means occupancy almost to the eyeballs, it is good for almost everyone. Large, comfortable, surrounded by fast food stalls, nice and not very restaurants and bars (some of which are just great ") and a huge number of shops.
A favorite place for the socialization of youth of all stripes, a place for meetings and partings, a message flow via Bluetooth. A place for fans to show themselves and others to see. The contingent is motley, but, for the most part, consisting of Europeans, Americans and Arabs.
There is a class of spectator seats Gold Class (popularly called "kiss"): spacious leather armchairs in an reclining state, installed in pairs in the back rows. In this class, they serve food, exactly the same as in bars for beer: everything is deep-fried and fatty. There is no parking at the weekend, there was not and never will be!
***
Cinestar Cinemas Deira City Center, Deira / Deira City Center Shopping Center
Tel: 04-294 9000,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 11
Ticket price: from 30 to 40 drx
What is good: from the previous cinema, this is distinguished only by the composition of the public: here it is simpler, but in terms of number - no less. All residents of the surrounding areas flock to this cinema, as it is physically accessible on foot, and guests from Sharjah.
On weekends, the cinema is like a beehive that speaks dozens of languages. Queues line up long, all sit shoulder to shoulder. And this despite the fact that here are the largest halls in the city. Since the cinema is located in a shopping center, there are plenty of shops here. Restaurants and cafes are also in abundance, but few are standing. Parking, of course, will have to look for a long time.
Grand Cinemas Cinemas in Sharjah
Grand Mega Mall, ul. Kings Abdul Aziz / Sharjah Mega Mall
Tel: 06-575 1888,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 7
Ticket price: from 30 to 40 drx
Grand Sahara, Al Nahda / Sahara Mall
Tel: 06-531 6500,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 6
Ticket price: from 20 to 30 drx
Grand Buhairah, Buheira / Inside the Rivierah Towers
Tel: 06-556 3300,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 6
Ticket price: from 20 to 25 drx
Grand Cinemas Cinemas in Abu Dhabi
Grand Abu Dhabi Mall, Tourist Club Area 2 / Abu Dhabi Mall
Tel: 02-645 9499,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 9
Ticket price: from 30 drx
Grand Al Mariah, Umm al-Nasr Street / Al Mariah Center Shopping Center
Tel: 02-678 5000,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 9
Ticket price: from 30 drx
Grand Abu Dhabi, ul. Hamdan bin Muhammad / Hamdan Center Shopping Center
Tel: 02-633 3000,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 6
Ticket price: from 30 - 140 drx
Cinestar Cinema Abu Dhabi Cinestar Cinemas Marina Mall / Marina Mall
Tel: 02-681 8484,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 9
Ticket price: from 30 to 100 drx
Cinestar Cinema in Ajman
Cinestar Cinemas / Marina Mall
Tel: 06-748 2555,
[email protected]
Number of Halls: 5
Ticket price: from 30 drx
