Novo Cinemas

Novo Cinemas is a multiplex cinema exhibition brand headquartered in Doha, Qatar, and owned by ELAN Group. Its business is centered on operating commercial movie theatres in major shopping and entertainment destinations, with activities historically spanning Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The chain is associated with a broad cinema format rather than film production: its offer has included conventional auditorium screenings, premium large-format experiences, and multiplex facilities located in high-traffic malls. The brand’s direct predecessor was Grand Cinemas, a cinema business launched in Dubai in 2000. Grand Cinemas expanded its presence in the region during the 2000s and became associated with the development of large multiplex venues. One notable milestone was the opening of the first IMAX theatre in the Middle East at the Ibn Battuta Mall Megaplex in Dubai in July 2005. That venue later operated for many years before closing on 31 July 2024. In July 2007, the Grand Cinemas franchise expanded into Lebanon under the ownership of local businessman Selim Ramia. The Lebanese Grand Cinemas business subsequently continued as an independent entity and should not be conflated with Novo Cinemas. The separation is important because the Grand Cinemas name remained in use in Lebanon after the Gulf business adopted the Novo identity. The Gulf operation was relaunched as Novo Cinemas on 6 May 2014. The rebrand gave the business a distinct identity for its cinema operations in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while retaining continuity with the earlier Grand Cinemas network. Following the relaunch, Novo venues were reported in Doha and in several United Arab Emirates locations, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Novo Cinemas has positioned itself as a regional cinema operator serving both mainstream theatrical releases and premium entertainment occasions. Its mall-based locations are designed around the multiplex model, combining multiple screens with concessions and, where available, enhanced presentation formats. The company has also received regional industry recognition through its leadership, including an award for chief executive Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen’s contribution to the film industry. The chain’s footprint has changed over time. In 2024, it ceased operations at several Dubai mall locations, including Ibn Battuta Mall, and the former Ibn Battuta IMAX site closed on 31 July of that year. Novo Cinemas also ended its Oman operations after the Mall of Muscat location closed on 3 August 2025. Based on the available reference material, the brand remains associated with operations in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, although individual venue status can change as leases and cinema contracts are renewed.

Novo Cinemas traces its origins to Grand Cinemas, a cinema chain launched in Dubai in 2000. The original business developed during a period of rapid growth in Gulf shopping malls, where multiplexes became important components of mixed-use retail and leisure destinations. Rather than operating as a film studio or distributor, the business focused on the exhibition side of the industry: acquiring or managing cinema sites, scheduling theatrical releases, and providing auditorium, concession, and premium-format services to audiences. A significant early development came in July 2005, when Grand Cinemas opened the first IMAX theatre in the Middle East at the Ibn Battuta Mall Megaplex in Dubai. The venue became a notable example of the chain’s effort to add differentiated presentation formats to its multiplex portfolio. It ultimately closed on 31 July 2024, after the site had operated for many years. The Grand Cinemas name also expanded beyond the Gulf. In July 2007, a franchise operation was established in Lebanon under the ownership of Selim Ramia, a local businessman associated with the Gulf Film LLC Group. That Lebanese business continued as an independent Grand Cinemas entity. Consequently, the Lebanese chain and the Gulf cinema business that later became Novo Cinemas are related historically but are not the same current corporate brand. On 6 May 2014, the Gulf operation was relaunched under the Novo Cinemas name. The rebrand applied to the cinema network serving Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and established a new consumer-facing identity distinct from the Lebanese Grand Cinemas business. After the relaunch, Novo Cinemas had locations in Qatar and in several United Arab Emirates markets, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The company was headquartered in Doha and operated under ELAN Group ownership. Novo Cinemas developed as a regional multiplex operator with a portfolio intended to serve both routine filmgoing and premium entertainment occasions. Its venues were located primarily in malls and other large leisure destinations. The business model depended on theatrical film releases, screen utilization, admissions, concessions, and supplementary premium-format offerings. Its public profile also included executive recognition, with CEO Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen receiving a Female CEO of the Year award for her contribution to the regional film industry. The company’s geographic footprint later contracted. During 2024, Novo Cinemas ceased operations at several Dubai mall locations, including Ibn Battuta Mall. In Oman, the brand ended its operations following the closure of its Mall of Muscat unit on 3 August 2025. The available reference material identifies Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as the markets associated with Novo Cinemas after the Oman exit, but it does not provide a complete current venue list. Individual theatre operations should therefore be checked against current venue announcements or official showtime information where available.

• 2025

  Oman operations end

  [1]Novo Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  Novo Cinemas ceased operations in Oman after its Mall of Muscat unit closed on 3 August 2025.

• 2024

  Dubai venue footprint reduced

  [1]Novo Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  Novo Cinemas ceased operations at several Dubai mall locations, including Ibn Battuta Mall.

• 2024

  Ibn Battuta IMAX closes

  [1]Novo Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  The former Ibn Battuta Mall IMAX venue closed on 31 July 2024.

• 2014

  Novo Cinemas brand relaunch

  [1]Novo Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  The Gulf cinema operation was relaunched under the Novo Cinemas name on 6 May 2014.

• 2007

  Grand Cinemas expands into Lebanon

  [1]Novo Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  The Grand Cinemas franchise expanded into Lebanon under the ownership of Selim Ramia. The Lebanese business later continued independently from Novo Cinemas.

• 2005

  First Middle Eastern IMAX venue opens at Ibn Battuta Mall

  [1]Novo Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  Grand Cinemas opened an IMAX screen at the Ibn Battuta Mall Megaplex in Dubai, described in the reference material as the first IMAX in the Middle East.

• 2000

  Grand Cinemas launches in Dubai

  [1]Novo Cinemasen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor brand Grand Cinemas was launched in Dubai, establishing the business that would later be relaunched as Novo Cinemas.

A regional multiplex and entertainment operator offering mainstream theatrical films and premium cinema experiences in major Gulf shopping and leisure destinations.

• Cinema exhibition · 2014

  Novo Cinemas multiplexes

  The core offering is a network of multiplex theatres showing commercially released films across multiple auditoriums. Novo Cinemas venues have primarily operated in major shopping and entertainment destinations, serving audiences in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The multiplex model combines ticketed screenings with concessions and ancillary customer services.

• Premium cinema · 2005

  Premium and large-format cinema

  Novo Cinemas and its predecessor business have offered enhanced cinema experiences, including large-format presentation. The best-documented example is the IMAX theatre at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai, opened under Grand Cinemas in 2005 and closed in 2024.

• Food and beverage

  Cinema concessions

  Like other multiplex operators, Novo Cinemas supports screenings with theatre concessions and related in-venue customer services. The available reference material confirms the cinema operation but does not provide a detailed current concession range.

• 2025

  Exit Oman operationsOther

  Background

  Novo Cinemas operated a unit at Mall of Muscat in Oman, but the available reference material does not state the commercial reasons for its closure.

  Action taken

  The Mall of Muscat cinema closed on 3 August 2025, ending Novo Cinemas operations in Oman.

  Aftermath

  The brand’s documented operating-market footprint was reduced to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

  Source

• 2024

  Close several Dubai cinema locationsOther

  Background

  The reference material reports changes to the Novo Cinemas venue network in Dubai, including the Ibn Battuta Mall location.

  Action taken

  Novo Cinemas ceased operations at several Dubai mall sites during 2024.

  Aftermath

  The company’s Dubai footprint was reduced, and the Ibn Battuta IMAX venue closed on 31 July 2024.

  Source

• 2014

  Rebrand the Gulf cinema operation as Novo CinemasStrategy

  Background

  The cinema business had operated under the Grand Cinemas name since its 2000 launch in Dubai, while a separate Grand Cinemas operation also developed in Lebanon.

  Action taken

  On 6 May 2014, the Gulf operation relaunched under the Novo Cinemas name, creating a separate identity for its Qatar and United Arab Emirates activities.

  Aftermath

  The Lebanese Grand Cinemas business continued independently, while the Novo name became associated with the Gulf cinema network.

  Source

1. 1Novo Cinemasen.wikipedia.org