Qiddiya Project

Qiddiya Project is a Saudi entertainment project aimed at becoming the largest cultural, sports, and entertainment city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world. Its establishment was announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), on April 7, 2017. It is located southwest of the capital Riyadh, covering a total area of 376 km², which is three times larger than Disneyland in the United States.

 The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the main investor in the project, along with a select group of local and international investors. Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), established in 2018, oversees the implementation of the project. Upon completion, it is anticipated to become among the biggest entertainment destinations in the world.

The project is part of the plans aimed at supporting Saudi Vision 2030, seeking to establish sustainable and distinctive investments within the Kingdom. These investments contribute to diversifying the national revenue sources and creating new job opportunities to accommodate the youth.

The original concept behind the Qiddiya Project is to establish a city that serves as a capital for entertainment, sports, and arts. Its master plan includes more than three hundred entertainment and learning facilities located in five different zones designed to integrate with the breathtaking natural landscapes of the historic Qiddiya site.

Qiddiya Project was created on April 7, 2017, as part of Saudi Vision 2030, which is a sustainable long-term program for prosperity. On April 28, 2018, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, laid the foundation for the project. The launch ceremony was broadcast with the presence of a distinguished local and international audience. The construction of Qiddiya is based on five key pillars, including sports and wellness, nature and environment, parks and attractions, motion and mobility, and arts and culture. Through these pillars, the project aims to become a capital for entertainment, sports, and arts.

Qiddiya Project is located forty-five km away from the center of Riyadh, seventy km from King Khalid International Airport, and ten km from the last station of the Riyadh Metro project. The total area of the project is 376 km, with a planned development area of 223 km. The project area is three times larger than Disneyland in the United States, and it is expected to become one of the largest entertainment destinations in the world. The constructed area of Qiddiya will constitute around 30 percent of the total project area, with the remaining area dedicated to natural landmarks.

Qiddiya Project embodies the authenticity and history of the place it originated from. Its history dates back to centuries when it was a village located along one of the trade and pilgrimage routes traversing the Arabian Peninsula. As for the logo, the project has embraced a design that mirrors the mountainous nature and geographical terrain of the project area. The chosen colors symbolize the essence of the entertainment region.

Qiddiya Project supports Saudi Vision 2030 by establishing itself as a global tourist destination to attract local and regional tourism. This makes it a major contributor to diversifying the non-oil national revenue sources. Qiddiya Project also achieves several other goals, including developing a global destination for all Saudi and non-Saudi residents and international visitors, offering a variety of entertainment, sports, artistic showcases, and exceptional experiences. It also contributes to creating job opportunities in new sectors, such as hospitality, tourism, and entertainment. Additionally, the project improves lifestyle patterns through the opportunities it presents, serves the transformation across the Kingdom, and garners global market interest and influx to the Kingdom.

Conceptual image of the nature and environment of Qiddiya Project's facilities in Riyadh. (Qiddiya Press Office)

Qiddiya's master plan was developed in collaboration with Bjarke Ingels Group, a Danish company known for developing globally recognized entertainment, heritage, and cultural projects. This project was designed to complement and enhance the site's natural environment with multiple designs that prioritize quality of life and encourage walking, exploration, and enjoyment of various activities in entertainment, sports, and art. Qiddiya consists of five main development zones: Resort Core, City Center or Qiddiya Village, Eco Zone, Motion Zone, and Golf Community. The project's zones are interconnected through advanced transportation means, walkways, cycling, bus, or autonomous vehicle routes.

Resort Core embodies the heart of Qiddiya, as it will feature four enclosed tourist zones surrounding a central area dedicated to retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. This includes Six Flags Qiddiya spanning thirty-two ha, along with an array of exceptional hotel facilities providing a unique view of the entertainment resort from an elevation of 200 m. Adjacent to this fifteen-ha area, a main outdoor entertainment zone will be established, with the ability to host various events accommodating anywhere from five to forty thousand visitors, all within a concept of natural parks. The outdoor zone will also include ice skating facilities.

The City Center, located on the slopes of Tuwaiq Mountains, constitutes a mixed-use village dedicated to sports and arts. It will also serve as an ideal place to work, live, play, and relax. It will be home to an array of residential and commercial complexes, as well as retail stores. Additionally, a suspended railway will connect the City Center to Qiddiya. Furthermore, the City Center will house various sports facilities, including a diverse range of sports fields. This includes a multi-purpose indoor stadium with a seating capacity of eighteen thousand spectators, a mountainside sports stadium with room for twenty thousand spectators, a water sports center, and another sports center capable of hosting a wide array of individual sports activities and events.

The Motion Zone has been designed to emerge as the preferred destination for car enthusiasts and professionals. It will also serve as the primary learning hub for individuals seeking high-speed activities and experiences, featuring a speedway track. A Grade 1 track will be built according to the standards of the International Automobile Federation, allowing Qiddiya to host numerous international sports competitions and a wide range of activities by 2030. The Motion Zone will also include a private race resort, a racetrack residential resort, a motorsport business park, and a tech park.

Eco Zone provides visitors with an opportunity to explore the secrets of the desert environment through captivating nature and wildlife encounters and experiences. Eco Zone will be a whole new world of memorable outdoor adventures and picturesque views. These include animal encounters in their natural habitat, abseiling, hiking, ziplining, mountain biking, camping, and an eco-lodge resort.

The Golf Community is situated at the heart of Qiddiya, extending from the edge of the city at the intersection of the Metro Center and the Crossings Center to Edge Square. It encompasses the most beautiful views and connecting points around the Performing Arts Center in Qiddiya. Its location provides panoramic vistas of the project through a range of residential and recreational facilities. These include a championship 18-hole golf course, a clubhouse, a luxurious hotel resort, a spa, and equestrian facilities, all accessible from the villas and homes.

Qiddiya’s Golf Community is divided into two key zones: private and public. The private community will feature exclusive residential offerings, a high-end resort and spa, as well as a championship golf course designed by golf legend, Jack Nicklaus – his first signature course in the region. The public golf development will be an integrated community that offers a range of sports, retail, and dining options, exquisite restaurants, a social club, a residential complex featuring villas and homes, private resorts, a golf hotel and spa, and equestrian facilities.

Conceptual image of the car race track in Qiddiya Project. (Qiddiya Press Office)

Qiddiya Project includes several recreational facilities, including amusement parks, water parks, landscapes, cultural activities, sports areas, and car and bike riding paths. Upon its completion, the project aspires to become a host for numerous global sports competitions and a diverse array of activities by the year 2030. The first phase of the project also encompasses over forty-five projects and three hundred activities across the arts, creativity, hospitality, entertainment, and sports sectors.

Six Flags Qiddiya is the first-of-its-kind entertainment city in the Kingdom, spanning an area of 320,000 m. It will feature twenty-eight rides and attractions, consisting of ten rides designed for adults and eighteen rides intended for families and children. These experiences will be spread across six lands. Steam Town is located at the crossroads where the past and the future collide. The Twilight Gardens is tailored for young visitors and their families. It includes several rides, including Twilight Express Coaster, Critter Chase, and Balloon Ride. Discovery Springs is like a wonderland with waterfalls, water channels, and hot springs, as well as rare plants and trees. The City of Thrills embodies the true essence of Saudi Vision 2030, characterized by vibrant landscapes and featuring the Falcon's Flight, which is the world's longest, fastest, and tallest roller coaster. Valley of Fortune is an adventurous land where treasure hunters from ancient times roamed the world in search of hidden treasures. It offers several rides, including the Flame Jet Roller Coaster, the Rotating Tower, and the Valley Flyers ride. Grand Exposition takes its visitors back to the memories of the past and the golden era, blending carnival atmospheres and traditional marketplaces with the greatest achievements of science and technology. It offers various rides, including the Ship Spin Roller Coaster and the Arabian Carousel ride.

All the rides and attractions in Six Flags Qiddiya have been exclusively designed for Qiddiya, embodying the rich cultural heritage of the site and the Kingdom as a whole. They also feature five exclusive rides that will set ten new records. Among the highlights are Falcon's Flight, the world's tallest, fastest, and highest roller coaster, Flame Jet Roller Coaster, the world's tallest inverted hat-shaped roller coaster, as well as the Spin Roller Coaster, the world's tallest spinning roller coaster. Additionally, there is the Sirocco Tower, the world's tallest rocket ride, and the Gyrospin, the world's tallest pendulum ride.

Regarding the company responsible for the project, Six Flags, the largest regional theme park company in the world, has worked on the development of Six Flags Qiddiya. This project represents the company's largest foreign investment in fifty years since its establishment. The company has implemented specially designed parks, rides, and attractions exclusively for Qiddiya Project.

Conceptual image of Cliff Edge Plaza and the Performing Arts Center at Qiddiya. (Qiddiya Press Office)

It is one of the tourist attractions in Qiddiya, serving as the Kingdom's first and region's largest water theme park. It is designed to align with the rich culture and heritage of the Kingdom. It covers an area of 252,000 m and is home to twenty-three rides and attractions, out of which seven will be world firsts. These are spread across nine main zones: Entry Gate, Camel Rock, Dub Grotto, Wave Wadi, the Den, Viper Canyon, Arabian Peak, the Herding Grounds, and Surf Lagoon. It will be the only water theme park in the world that offers a unique mix of dry and wet rides as well as state-of-the-art competition-level facilities for water sports enthusiasts.

Speed Park is one of the main attractions for motorsports fans in Qiddiya, as it encompasses the FIA grade 1 racetrack. Speed Park will host various thrilling car activities, such as karting, passenger rides, driving experiences, etc.

The Jack Nicklaus championship golf course is designed to be the preferred destination for elite golfers to compete. It is the first golf course in the region to be designed by the world-renowned golfer, Jack Nicklaus. The new golf course will be located forty minutes away from the heart of Riyadh, surrounded by the stunning natural landscapes of Qiddiya and Tuwaiq Mountains. Jack and Nicklaus Design are creating the championship course for a private golf and country club, set within an exclusive residential community at the heart of the Qiddiya project.

Performing Arts Center in Qiddiya offers a multi-use theater, the first of its kind in the Kingdom. It offers visitors a range of theatrical activities from performing arts and educational programs to vocational training and resident artist programs.

Arts Complex in Qiddiya is home to a wide range of activities dedicated to all forms of art, including immersive art shows, creative exhibitions, fashion shows, as well as music concerts and pop-up events. Arts Complex also provides visitors with ample space to discover the culture and rich heritage of the Kingdom and share art with the world. It also creates opportunities for individuals seeking ways to learn, hone their skills, and contribute to the artistic community through a diverse array of learning programs.

Festival Grounds is located at the heart of the Resort Core, surrounded by a wide array of natural landscapes and vast green spaces. It is home to a wide array of events, concerts, shows, and festivals. Its modern facilities welcome local and international performing groups to deliver artistic performances, and group and solo songs. Festival Grounds also features a wide selection of outdoor restaurants.

Qiddiya Project is part of the plans aimed at supporting Saudi Vision 2030. It is among a series of Saudi megaprojects launched to reduce reliance on oil and diversify the sources of the national economy. Additionally, it aims to make an economic impact by redirecting billions of dollars spent annually by Saudis on international tourism back into the country.

Qiddiya is a key component of Saudi Vision 2030, working towards a dual economic and social objective. It aims to drive economic diversification and enrich the lives of the Kingdom's youth. Additionally, it seeks to create sustainable and distinctive investments within the country, contributing to the diversification of national income sources and creating new job opportunities to accommodate the potential of youth.

Qiddiya aligns with several key principles of Saudi Vision 2030, including driving economic diversification, doubling household spending on entertainment and tourism, creating new job opportunities for Saudi youth, empowering women and youth, promoting healthier lifestyles, and fostering a culture of startups.

Qiddiya Project aims to leverage the growing trend of foreign tourism to double household spending on domestic entertainment by repatriating the USD30 Bn spent by Saudi households on outbound tourism. By 2030, it is expected to attract around seventeen million visitors annually and provide more than 25,000 job opportunities, contributing approximately SAR17 Bn to the Saudi economy each year by the end of 2030.

Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) was established to lead the management and development of the entire Qiddiya project. It was announced on May 21, 2018, as a closed joint-stock company fully owned by the Public Investment Fund under the name Qiddiya Investment Company.

Plans for certain key assets in Qiddiya were announced in 2021, including the Jack Nicklaus championship golf course and the Falcon's Flight, which will become the iconic features of the Six Flags Qiddiya. Contracts worth over SAR2 Bn were awarded to Saudi companies, and a strategic partnership was announced with Detecon Al Saudia (DETASAD).

In 2021, Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) awarded the contract to build Six Flags Qiddiya to Bouygues Bâtiment International (BBI), a French company specializing in complex construction projects globally for nearly fifty years, with projects spanning five continents in around thirty countries.

The master plan for the project was developed in collaboration with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a Danish firm known for developing international entertainment, heritage, and cultural projects. Qiddiya was designed to harmonize with and enhance the unique natural surroundings of the site.

Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) contracted with ALEC Engineering & Contracting to build the Kingdom's first and the region's largest water theme park. ALEC is a subsidiary of the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and operates in the construction and related sectors in the GCC and Africa.