Saudi Arabia to launch first phase of Qiddiya project in 2022

Saudi Arabia will launch the first phase of Qiddiya project in 2022, Almamoun Alshingiti, executive director of development – sports at Qiddiya, told The Stadium Business.com.

The entertainment project will be built in three phases with the final phase completed by 2035 hosting an anticipated 17 million visitors annually.

The size of this project, which will be developed and designed by Six Flags Co., is 2.5 times the size of Walt Disney World.

Qiddiya faces various challenges, being the first-of-its-kind project in the Kingdom. However, Qiddiya Investment Co., the developer of the megacity project in Riyadh, which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), boosts confidence in implmenting this project.

“This project will ultimately support the central goals outlined in Vision 2030 … Qiddiya will unlock tremendous opportunity, catalyse economic diversification and enhance the quality of life for Saudi citizens – each of which are core aspirations of the vision," Alshingiti said.

“Qiddiya will create thousands of job prospects for young Saudis and open up currently non-existent industries for the private sector,” he added.

Qiddiya will be built as an entertainment, sport and cultural destination 40 kilometers outside Riyadh.