Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Ibrahim Waheed has said that construction of cinema complexes in Addu City and Kulhudhuffushi City will begin soon.

The Minister made the remarks while speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office on Tuesday to brief the media on the Ministry’s ongoing work.

He said the Government is undertaking several initiatives to develop the entertainment sector, including the establishment of modern cinema complexes. Discussions are currently underway with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to secure land in Hulhumalé for a modern cinema complex, with construction expected to begin next year.

Minister Waheed said the planned cinema complexes will feature multiple screens to cater to diverse audiences. He noted that the facilities will allow viewers to choose from different genres at the same time, with four screens planned at each complex. One screen will be dedicated exclusively to screening Dhivehi films, he said, as part of efforts to promote local cinema.

The Minister also said construction of the cinema complex in Kulhudhuffushi City is expected to commence in the near future, adding that administrative processes for the project are currently underway. Highlighting challenges faced by filmmakers in screening films in the atolls, the Minister said establishing cinemas in major regional centres is essential to support the growth of the film industry. He added that the cinema complex planned for Addu City will also become operational once construction is completed.

At present, cinema infrastructure in the Maldives remains limited. Olympus Cinema in Malé, which has a seating capacity of around 438, has been operating since 1957 and primarily screens local productions. Schwack Cinema, the only other active cinema brand, operates in Malé and Hulhumalé, focusing mainly on international releases.