Movie theaters will reopen in Saudi Arabia next year, the country's Ministry of Culture and Information said Monday. The move is the latest part of a broader reform effort by the ultraconservative country.

"This marks a watershed moment in the development of the cultural economy in the kingdom," Information Minister Awwad Alawwad said.

The government had earlier lifted a 35-year-old ban on cinemas that was passed during a particularly conservative era in Saudi history. Saudi Arabia's top cleric in January had said the "depravity" of films corrupted the country's morals.

The culture ministry has nevertheless ignored those warnings and said it will start granting theater licenses immediately.

It expects the first cinemas to open in March 2018 and some 300 to be opened before 2030. It also predicts the new cinema industry will contribute over 90 billion riyals ($24 billion, €20 billion) to the national economy and spur the creation of 30,000 permanent jobs.

Read more: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledges more 'moderate' kingdom

Saudi Arabia: Reforms or just power games? Formation of an anti-corruption committee Dozens of princes, former ministers and prominent businessmen have been detained across Saudi Arabia in an unprecedented anti-corruption campaign. The arrests happened after King Salman ordered the creation of an anti-corruption committee, headed by his son, Crown Prince Mohammed.

Saudi Arabia: Reforms or just power games? Reforming the country or silencing potential rivals? The newly formed committee possesses wide ranging powers, including the ability to issue arrest warrants, freeze assets and impose travel bans. Saudi Arabia's crown prince has vowed to fight corruption in the world's top oil exporter. Thirty-two-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud is widely regarded as the driving force behind opening up the ultra-conservative country.

Saudi Arabia: Reforms or just power games? One of Middle East’s richest in hot waters One of the arrested, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, is a billionaire and business tycoon who has extensive investments in Western companies such as Twitter, Apple, Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, Citigroup, the Four Seasons hotel chains and the ride sharing service Lyft. One of the Middle East's richest persons, Prince Alwaleed, is also known for being one of the most outspoken Saudi royals.

Saudi Arabia: Reforms or just power games? 'Homeland will not exist unless corruption is uprooted' The detainees include ex-finance minister Ibrahim al-Assaf and former head of the royal court Khaled al-Tuwaijri. Three former state officials were also sacked earlier before being detained. "The homeland will not exist unless corruption is uprooted and the corrupt are held accountable," said a royal degree connected to the arrests.

Saudi Arabia: Reforms or just power games? Too much happening too quickly In other developments, the Saudi monarch removed the prominent prince in charge of the National Guard. The development followed the resignation of a close ally, Lebanon's prime minister Saad Hariri. These political developments further shake up Saudi Arabia and the greater Middle East as regional conflicts rage on the kingdom's borders. Author: Aasim Saleem



Vision 2030

Riyadh's decision is part of Vision 2030, a plan to diversify Saudi Arabia's oil-dependent economy and modernize its society to attract international investment.

"Opening cinemas will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification; by developing the broader cultural sector we will create new employment and training opportunities, as well as enriching the kingdom's entertainment options," Alawwad said.

Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has been the plan's driving force since he was appointed heir to the Saudi throne in June.

The young prince has called on Saudi Arabia to return to "moderate Islam" and he is widely seen to have pushed for the lifting of a ban on women driving earlier this year.

Read more: Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman: Reformer and hard-liner

amp/ng (dpa, AP, AFP)