Novo Cinemas
Novo Cinemas is a movie theatre chain owned by Gulf Film LLC operating in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), Qatar and Bahrain. It is headquartered in Dubai and considered one of the larger cinema chains in the Middle East. It was previously known as Grand Cinemas since 2000 until it relaunched on May 6, 2014 under the Novo Cinemas name, with theatres located in Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah. Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen, CEO of Novo Cinemas, has been crowned ‘Female CEO of the Year’ at a prestigious industry award for her outstanding contribution  to the regional film industry. Despite the 2014 rebrand, the Grand Cinemas brand itself continues to exist as a separate corporate entity based in Lebanon, owned by Selim Ramia & Co., one of the co-founders and former executives of Gulf Film LLC. History. The Grand Cinemas brand name was launched in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2000. In July 2005, Grand Cinemas launched the first IMAX in the Middle East at Ibn Battuta Mall Megaplex in Dubai. In July 2007, the Grand Cinemas franchise expands into Lebanon under the ownership of local businessman Selim Ramia, one of the co-founders  of the Gulf Film LLC Group. The company continues presently as an independent entity despite the 2014 rebrand in the U.A.E. It was relaunched on May 6, 2014 as Novo Cinemas. See also. The Movie Masters Cinema Group, "Grand Cinemas" is also a cinema chain, operating under parent company "Movie Masters", in Western Australia. "Movie Masters" also operates "Ace Cinemas".