The Abandoned Outdoor Movie Theater of the Sinai Desert
Somewhere on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, nestled at the foot of a desert mountain range, sits an odd sight that is almost completely out of place: hundreds of seats for an outdoor movie theater. If you have planned to visit the most ancient and historical region on this planet and want to look at Egyptian civilization, then Cairo is the perfect place to stay. You can visit https://www.hotelsincairo.org/ to book hotels in Cairo.
Estonian photographer Kaupo Kikkas recently visited the empty location and brought back these amazing images of the abandoned place. He explained the story as he heard it via his blog. The theater was built “sometime in the beginning of this millennium” by a man from France. He liked to smoke cannabis (and presumably had a bit of money to throw around). One day he was hanging out in the Sinai desert with his friends and decided that the one thing the place was missing was … a movie theater. Long story short, tons of old seats and a generator were hauled in from Cairo, including a giant screen that looked like the sail of a ship.
Everything was set for opening night, however, the locals didn’t like the idea for some reason and sabotaged the generator. Not a single movie was ever screened. So now it sits in the middle of a desert, a forgotten movie theater that was never used.
Location: Google Maps.
– via kaupokikkas.com, messynessychic.com, thisiscolossal.com, abandonedography.com.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Former Seventh Art Cinema site, South Sinai, Egypt (historic location only)
- Access
- This is the former, remote cinema with no verified public visitor route or reopening. Reports conflict about what remained after 2014: contemporary reporting described it as destroyed or levelled, while later accounts described seats still present; a 2025 account says local authorities closed the area to tourists in April 2018. Current physical condition and any reopening are unconfirmed. The UK FCDO’s advice, updated October 27, 2026, distinguishes North Sinai (against all travel) from parts of northern South Sinai (against all but essential travel, with coastal exceptions); the exact former site’s current local access status is not established. Do not use old coordinates as directions or attempt an off-road visit; consult current official advice and local authorities.
- Admission
- No current public visitor operation or ticket is documented. The cinema did not establish a regular screening program, and the former site’s present physical condition and access status are unverified.
- Time needed
- No visitor duration can be recommended: there is no verified public route, operating attraction, or confirmed reopening.
- Best season
- No visitor season is established. The site is unmapped and has no verified public access; this is historical context, not trip advice.
- Opening hours
- No visitor hours or public schedule are published. The latest reports located include a 2018 tourist-area closure; no reopening has been verified, and sources conflict on the physical remains.
- Facts checked
- 2026-11-01
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good
Too bad he didn’t work things out with the locals first. It was a neat idea.
Here’s the exact location.
Dropped Pin
near Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh
South Sinai Governorate
Egypt
https://goo.gl/maps/pXTQ9NUo7e12