Cinemas roll back ticket rates to Dh30

Dubai: Cinema operators have said they hope to persuade the authorities to let them reinstate the recent ticket price rise.

Theatres across the UAE have in recent days reverted to their previous price of Dh30 per ticket on the orders of the Ministry of Economy.

The ruling from the ministry came last week, about a month after both Grand Cinemas and CineStar, the two main cinema operators in the UAE, increased prices by Dh5 to Dh35.

Salim Ramia from Grand Cinemas, which has 16 cinemas spread across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, said he was seeking a meeting with officials to press the case for a price increase.

"We have gone back to the old rate but we want to meet with the ministry and put forward the necessary documents showing the reasons for the increases which we have made.

"The ministry asked us to reverse [the price increase], so we're going to talk to them to show them the situation. We want to show them the justification for the increase," he said.

He said it was "very normal" for prices to go up now, as prior to the recent increase, ticket charges had not been raised for six years, while over that period costs had gone up more than 50 per cent.

In its circular to cinemas, the Ministry of Economy warned that it would take action against cinema operators that increased prices through "cartels".

CineStar ticket prices went up on December 28 while at Grand Cinemas the price increase took effect from January 1.

Cinemagoers said they were pleased at the ministry's action in reducing ticket prices. Ben Oliver, 37, an Australian who works in advertising, said: "The Dh5 increase was a big change in percentage terms and if I take both my kids to the cinema it starts to make a difference.

Rashid Khan, 44, from Pakistan, said: "This is very welcome from the authorities. They are safeguarding consumers."

However, Nicholas Pond, 28, a Briton, said that a Dh5 change in cinema prices meant little to the sort of people who regularly visit the movies in the UAE.

He explained: "People who have enough money to go to the cinema will not notice the difference. I don't think reducing the price by Dh5 will entice many people back to the cinema when cheap DVDs are available and there are so many films on television."

Officials at CineStar, which has one cinema in Abu Dhabi, two in Dubai and one in Ajman, were not available for comment.

A senior official at the Ministry of Economy also declined to comment on the latest developments.

There are still cheaper cinema tickets available at theatres such as National in Abu Dhabi, where they cost Dh25 each, and Eldorado, also in the capital, where tickets sell for Dh20.

Cinema authorities should think about giving special packages for families, and also for students and seniors. This way, I think more residents would actually go to the cinema.
Aziz
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Notdumb, if cinema tickets are not selling, aren't the prices supposed to decrease? Basic economics!
Hurez
Dubai,UAE

Considering the amount of commercials we see in the cinemas before movies, and the poor technical quality of positive copies they are running in the theaters, I think the ticket prices are high enough.
Raul
Dubai,UAE

I have stayed in the UAE for more than five years and not once have I gone to any movie house since the price is triple the cost in my home country. I would rather just keep my Dh30 and buy DVDs.
Denz
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Don't look at Dh5 as a monetary value, but analyse the increase from Dh30 to Dh35 ? that is an increase of almost 17 per cent! Very high and not reasonable.
Chris
Dubai,UAE

In El Dorado, the ticket cost is actually Dh25.
Rajpillai
Abu Dhabi,UAE

National Cinema in Abu Dhabi was charging Dh20, but have raised that to Dh25 since last October. About the rollback in ticket prices, I am sure a lot of people, especially the Asian community, would really welcome this move.
Aisha
Abu Dhabi,UAE

What is Dh5 to roll back under the demand of the Ministry? It is peanuts.
Kadija
Sharjah,UAE

It is great that cinema tickets are now back to the Dh30 price because every Friday night I always go and watch a movie.
Omer
Karachi,Pakistan

This high price for cinema tickets causes people to buy pirated Dh5 CDs of movies, which their family can also enjoy.
Shamsuddin
Abu Dhabi,UAE

I think Dh30 is fair for cinema tickets even though it is quite expensive for average income earners like us. Also, what can you watch for two at El Dorado and National theatres? They mostly show Indian films.
Romeo
Abu dhabi,UAE

Cinema operators should also consider opening low budget theatres where they could screen older movies for a lesser price.
Vik
Newark,USA

I used to pay $4 in cinemas in Canada. Compare that to the exaggerated prices here. Even 30 AED is way too much.
Salem
Dubai,UAE

Tickets were not selling, so this is just being used as an excuse!
Not dumb
Dubai,UAE