The ban is set to end in March next year.

Lindsay Lohan’s love of the Middle East is no secret – she lives here in Dubai part time and often uses her social media channels to celebrate the region.

Combine that with her career in film, and it’s no surprise that she’s thrilled with this latest news from Saudi Arabia.

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Just this week, it was announced that the kingdom would allow public cinemas from March 2018. They’ve been banned since the 1980s.

Cheered by the announcement, Lohan asked on Twitter for people to support the decision.

“Please support this incredible movement,” Lohan said. “I look forward to being a part of this with the movie #FRAMETHEMOVIE.”

Her post included a Tweet from the New York Times linking to a news story about the change.

Details on the film she refers to weren’t immediately available, but we’re sure Lohan will keep us in the loop.

The kingdom’s move to allow cinemas comes as part of its ambitious Vision 2030 plan for a post-oil economy. It’s also seen the end of the ban on women driving (effective June next year). Women will be allowed into sports stadiums in three cities from next year, and women’s gyms are set to open too.

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“As the industry regulator, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media has started the process for licensing cinemas in the Kingdom,” Minister of Culture and Information Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad said in a statement, according to The National.

It is not yet known what such licenced cinemas might look like, or their rules around gender segregation, but more information is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

“This marks a watershed moment in the development of the cultural economy in the kingdom,” Dr Alawwad said.

“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 [enrich] the kingdom’s entertainment options.”

2017 has been a year of change for Saudi Arabia, and it doesn’t look like that’s set to slow down in 2018.

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