Riyadh – King Salman bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud officially laid the foundation stone for the landmark Qiddiya mega fun city.
The milestone project which spans an area of 334 square kilometers, is located just 40 kilometers west of the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
The landmark entertainment, sports and cultural destination is dubbed the biggest and first of its kind multi-theme park project in Saudi Arabia, surpassing Florida-based Walt Disney World in Florida, which covers 110 square kilometres.
Hundreds of guests from inside the Kingdom and around the world had a taste of the fun to come at Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia’s first entertainment, sport and cultural city.
Qiddiya, which is supported by The Public Investment Fund (PIF), is part of string projects which are aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on oil and spurring the diversifying its economy.
“In creating Qiddiya, we are building a brighter future. One filled with culture, sports, entertainment, and the arts that responds to the Saudi people’s desire for new and accessible activities that enrich their lives”, Qiddiya Chief Executive Officer Michael Reininger.
“Qiddiya will also create a self-sustaining ecosystem. Based on our five cornerstones, which are parks and attractions; motion and mobility; nature and environment; sports and wellness; and culture, arts, and education, our development will be supported by retail, residential, and hospitality offerings to form a fully-integrated entertainment destination”, he added.
He said that nearly two-thirds of the Saudi population is under 35 and over 7 million people residing within 40 kilometers of this location.
Reininger also noted that Qiddiya – with a land area that is 2.5 times the size of Walt Disney World, or 100 times the size of Central Park in New York – aims to attract 17 million visitors by 2030.
The project was announced by Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, also chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), will include a Six Flags theme park, safari, sports racing circuits and other facilities.
According to the World Bank, Saudis spend, on average, more than $20 billion annually on foreign tourism.
Saudi Arabia ranked 14th worldwide in expenditure on foreign tourism, which reached $25 billion in 2014, before the drop in oil prices.
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