UAE | General
UAE cinema ticket prices go up
The increase in ticket prices imposed by the UAE's two cinema operators in recent days is the first price rise for at least six years, officials have said.
- By Daniel Bardsley, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:36 May 3, 2009
- Image Credit: Rangarajan/Gulf News
- People queue up at the ticket counter of the Cinestar complex at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. For a family of four the increased prices will mean an additional Dh20 every time they go to the cinema.
Dubai: The increase in ticket prices imposed by the UAE's two cinema operators in recent days is the first price rise for at least six years, officials have said.
The price of a standard ticket at Cinestar cinemas went up from Dh30 to Dh35 on December 28 while at Grand Cinemas the same increase in ticket prices begins today (January 1).
Salim Ramia from Grand Cinemas, which has 16 theatres spread across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, told Gulf News that prices had not gone up for a long time
"This is the first increase in six years. For six years the price hasn't gone up. Running expenses are more than 25 per cent higher. Living in Dubai is becoming expensive.
"The rent, the operating expenses, they all went up and yet until now we haven't increased the prices. We never increased anything," he said.
Ramia said that cinema ticket prices in the UAE, even after the increase, were still good value compared to those in many other countries.
"We are still cheaper than in Europe or England," he told Gulf News.
Cinestar's regional cinema manager Toni Al Masih said the price rise was the first one the company had introduced since it began operations in the UAE in 1999. The company has two cinemas in Dubai, one in Ajman and one in Abu Dhabi.
Deterrent
"There has been an increase in rents, an increase in housing allowances, in operating allowances, an increase in the film hire that we have to pay.
"We haven't had an increase since we opened seven years ago in 1999. It was Dh30," he said.
Al Masih said he was not expecting cinema audiences to dwindle in the wake of the price increases.
"We haven't had any complaints. It is business as usual," he said.
Peter Alcock, 38, a British expatriate who goes to the cinema about once a month with his nine-year-old daughter and five-year-old son, said the price rise might deter him from going to the flicks.
"I wouldn't say Dh35 is unreasonable for a ticket, but it does mean that the cinema is a bit more expensive than some alternative things to do. The cinema is competing with video and it might make me more likely to buy a DVD instead.
"With the cinema, I certainly feel that if it cost a little bit less it would go a lot more often - if it was Dh20 we would probably go once a week instead of once a month," he said.
- With inputs from Mohammad Shamseddine, Staff Reporter
Your comments
Although I'm not much of a cinema goer since I have a home theatre, I totally disagree with the price increase on cinema tickets. We should not always compare prices with Europe etc. The UAE is a country with lots of expatriates mainly from Asia like India, Pakistan etc who are not as well paid as westerners. It will certainly affect their budget.
Zohra
Dubai,UAE
I do not agree at all with the increase in cinema ticket prices, as I go to the cinema almost every week. Why does everyone want to compare the UAE to Europe? It's absolutely wrong as there is a big difference between the UAE and Europe.
Iram
Dubai,UAE
I think the increased price of a cinema tickets in the UAE is absolutely ridiculous. These are the first cinemas I have heard that have increased prices.
Salman Kenth
Manama,Bahrain
I can watch four latest movies in Balcony in the Cinema here in Kuala Lumpur for the same price. That's high inflation.
Amyn
Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
This increased price-hike would deter many people from going to the cinemas. Cinemas are meant for recreation and with the prices increasing, students like me, would have no option but to watch DVDs at home. Considering the eatables which one purchases at the cinemas (which are overpriced too), the government should give students some discounts. A Dh20 ticket would be the best option.
Aisha Qureshi
Dubai,UAE
Why do we always compare uae to Europe or England? There is a big difference in salary compared to those countries which Salim Ramia has mentioned in your report.
Moc
Dubai,UAE
I am very much a movie-loving person. I do watch movies in theatres almost every week. This is definitely bad news for me as well as for those who love going to the cinemas. I might now go on alternative weeks instead of every week.
Ram Gurung
Dubai,UAE
Why is always any sort of cost increase compared to Europe / England, whereas most of the residents are from the sub-continent, where cinemas and other entertainment are very cheap.
Ismail Dangra
Abu Dhabi,U A E
I would like to give a piece of free management advice to the cinemas in UAE. Most of the costs associated with running a cinema are fixed cost. i.e. those costs cannot be avoided even if some shows are not having any audience. Why don't they just try reducing the ticket rates of morning and afternoon shows. I am sure the cinemas would attract more customers and they won't be losing anything as the evening and night show customers would continue going to those shows. It would definitely be a gamble worth taking.
Mohammed Rashid
Dubai,UAE
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