The Qiddiya entertainment district in Saudi Araba will include stadiums, theme parks, performance spaces, and more.

1. Saudi Araba Set to Open First
Phase of New Qiddiya District
by 2023

2.  Saudi Arabia has recovered quickly from the economic setback of the COVID-19
pandemic and is moving forward with several of its major projects, including the
entertainment city Qiddiya.
 Recently, the Saudi Real Estate Co. announced plans to raise more than $425 billion
through priority rights issues to finance several projects related to Vision 2030,
including Qiddiya. Authorities for the project recently approved a new CEO,
Philippe Gas, who formerly worked for the Walt Disney Company. Under his
direction, Qiddiya is set to become the Kingdom’s capital for entertainment, sports,
and the arts.

3. The Big Picture View of the Qiddiya
Entertainment District
 The Qiddiya project is located 45 kilometers from the city center of Riyadh and
will provide visitors access to several different theme parks and attractions, as well
as sports and wellness facilities. Overall, the project also includes the construction
of 10,000 new homes.
 Along with other projects under the Vision 2030 umbrella, Qiddiya is meant to
diversify the economy of Saudi Arabia and reduce its reliance on oil. The
ambitious project has the potential to make the Kingdom one of the primary
destinations in the world for entertainment. It is also expected to create tens of
thousands of new jobs and provide unique entertainment for both Saudis and
visitors alike.

4. The Big Picture View of the Qiddiya
Entertainment District
 Only 40 minutes from the center of Riyadh or 45 minutes from King Khalid
International Airport, Qiddiya has an enormous footprint that encompasses more
than 365 square kilometers—about half the size of Singapore.
 Just traveling to the entertainment district itself will be an experience. Qiddiya will
sit at the bottom of a 200-meter cliff, which will separate the resort areas from
the rest of the city. With this amount of space, Qiddiya can serve as a multi-day
vacation destination, not just a day trip. Indeed, several different theme parks are
being planned for the space, providing several days’ worth of activities and
something for every type of visitor.

5. Construction and Development Plans for
the Qiddiya Project
 One of the biggest projects already in the works at Qiddiya is a new Six Flags,
which will include a water park and a speed zone that will be large enough to a
host a Formula One Grand Prix. In addition to the theme park, there will be a
stadium, an arena, and a performance center for the arts, as well as golf courses
and hotels of different types.
 Six Flags Qiddiya has already unveiled plans to build the longest, fastest, and
tallest roller coaster in the world, to be named the Falcon’s Flight. Meanwhile, golf
legend Jack Nicklaus has agreed to design a signature golf course in the district.
CEO Philippe Gas and his team are working to ensure that all these different
entertainment attractions speak to a single, central story that celebrates the
history of Saudi Arabia while moving the Kingdom forward into the future.

6. Construction and Development Plans for
the Qiddiya Project
 Work on Qiddiya is already well under way, with the first phase of the project
expected to be open by 2023. While the pandemic had an impact on many other
construction and real estate developments around the world, work on Qiddiya
continued without a substantial impact. In fact, work on the infrastructure
surrounding Qiddiya helped keep the economy moving during the pandemic.
 The team behind the project awarded several large contracts to prepare the
ground, build roads, and create the rest of the infrastructure that is necessary to
keep the project progressing, such as power lines. By focusing on the
foundational elements of the project, Gas was able to keep the project moving
throughout the worst period of the COVID-19 crisis.

7. How Qiddiya Will Fit into the Larger Saudi
Development Landscape
 Gas brings a unique perspective to Qiddiya. He formerly played an instrumental
role in opening Shanghai Disney in China. Observers have noted that this park is
both authentically Disney and Chinese at the same time. To walk this fine line, he
immersed himself in Chinese culture and spent considerable time traveling the
country.
 Gas plans to bring the same energy to Qiddiya. He sees the project as a
celebration of life that simultaneously tells the story of Saudi Arabia, while
focusing on the innovation that has driven the Kingdom so much in recent years.
This combination of history and innovation will make Qiddiya distinctly Saudi in
nature while providing space for new and exciting growth.

8. Qiddiya and Sustainability
 Saudi Arabia has been leading the charge in sustainable development in the
MENA region, especially with its massive Red Sea project. Gas is also making
sustainability a central concern for Qiddiya and incorporating this into the culture
of the new resort.
 One of the key priorities for the team is biodiversity, both in terms of increasing it
throughout the resort and sustaining what already exists in the areas around the
development. Qiddiya’s final design will incorporate nature, rather than work
against it, with areas specifically created to nurture local fauna. The other key
environmental priorities of the development include sustainable waste
management and minimized water consumption.