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| Qiddiya Project | |
|---|---|
| Name | Qiddiya Project |
| Settlement type | Entertainment district |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Saudi Arabia |
| Subdivision type1 | Province |
| Subdivision name1 | Riyadh Province |
| Established title | Announced |
| Established date | 2017 |
| Area total km2 | 334 |
Qiddiya Project Qiddiya Project is a large-scale entertainment and cultural development on the outskirts of Riyadh, announced as part of Saudi Vision 2030. The project aims to create a regional destination incorporating theme parks, sports facilities, and cultural venues to diversify Saudi Arabia's leisure offerings and engage international partners like Walt Disney Company, Six Flags and investment firms such as Blackstone Group and SoftBank. It has attracted attention from figures and institutions including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia), and international developers.
The development is planned as a mixed-use leisure district located near Diriyah, situated within Riyadh Province and designed to include attractions comparable to Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Formula One circuits. Planners have referenced benchmark destinations like Las Vegas Strip, Epcot, Alton Towers, and Montreal cultural hubs, aiming to integrate hospitality by partnering with brands such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Worldwide, and AccorHotels. The initiative aligns with national strategies promoted by Mohammed bin Salman and coordinated through Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia), seeking synergies with events like the Riyadh Season and regional connectivity via King Khalid International Airport.
Announced in 2017, the scheme followed policy frameworks including Vision 2030 and strategic plans associated with the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing. Early memoranda of understanding involved entertainment operators such as Six Flags and motorsport organizations akin to Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and promoters similar to those behind Formula E. International consultants and architects with portfolios referencing projects for Foster + Partners, Gensler, and AECOM were engaged alongside investment relations teams linked to Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and McKinsey & Company.
The master plan envisions sectors including theme parks inspired by Disney California Adventure, motorsport facilities resonant with Silverstone Circuit and Yas Marina Circuit, and adventure parks recalling Red Bull-style events and X Games. Cultural components cite precedents like Smithsonian Institution, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and performing arts venues comparable to Royal Opera House Muscat and Sydney Opera House. Hospitality and residential elements plan to host brands such as Ritz-Carlton, Marriott International, and boutique developers with histories at Aman Resorts and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Sports academies intend to emulate programs from La Masia, IMG Academy, and Aspire Academy.
Ownership and oversight were established under entities linked to Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia) and a special-purpose vehicle chaired by royal appointees including associates of Mohammed bin Salman and senior executives formerly of Saudi Aramco and National Commercial Bank (Saudi Arabia). Funding models involve sovereign-wealth allocations resembling moves by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and co-investments with private equity firms such as BlackRock and infrastructure funds analogous to Macquarie Group. Strategic partnerships cited include hospitality operators like AccorHotels and sports rights holders akin to Formula One Group and media distribution partners resembling beIN Sports.
Projected impacts reference outcomes associated with large-scale tourism projects in regions like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Macau, including job creation estimates inspired by studies from Oxford Economics and Deloitte. The initiative positions itself to influence cultural programming similar to Sharjah Biennial and sports calendars comparable to ATP Tour and FIFA World Cup ancillary events, while aiming to diversify revenue streams away from Saudi Aramco-linked hydrocarbons by boosting sectors championed by Ministry of Investment (Saudi Arabia), Saudi Tourism Authority, and regional chambers like Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Construction phases were scheduled with contracts awarded to international contractors and consultants with portfolios including Bechtel, Turner Construction Company, AECOM, and regional firms such as Saudi Binladin Group and El Seif Engineering Contracting Company. Timelines referenced benchmark delivery sequences used in projects like The Venetian Macao and Expo 2020 Dubai, with target openings phased across the early to mid-2020s and cargo/logistics coordination involving King Abdulaziz Port-style operations and regional transport links via Riyadh Metro and highway networks such as Highway 65.
Critics have compared the project's social implications to debates seen around developments like Saadiyat Island and NEOM, raising concerns paralleling reportage from organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International regarding labor practices similar to those scrutinized in the construction sectors of Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Environmental assessments invoked precedents from controversies over Palm Jumeirah and infrastructural strain seen during events like Hajj seasons, while commentators in international outlets referenced implications for heritage sites near Diriyah and regional conservation frameworks associated with UNESCO.
Category:Entertainment districts in Saudi Arabia