Public cinemas will be allowed in Saudi Arabia for the first time at the beginning of next year, said Minister of Culture and Information in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad, Reuters reported. 

The first cinemas are expected to open in March 2018, said Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad, adding that the licensing process for the cinemas has already begun.

Cinemas in Saudi Arabia were banned in 1980s. Saudi religious leaders urge young people to abandon public entertainments and prohibit the use of social networks.