Qiddiya: The Capital of Entertainment, Sports, and the Arts
Explore the vision, destinations, and economic impact of a project for the future.
✦ Vision 🏰 Destinations 📈 Impact ⏳ Timeline
Qiddiya is a cornerstone of the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 strategy, moving beyond the conventional role of an entertainment destination to become an economic and social driver that redefines quality of life in the region.
This mega-development, one of the Public Investment Fund's giga-projects, aims not only to diversify income sources but also to create a new global model for city economies based on entertainment, sports, and culture. It seeks to attract international market interest and transform Riyadh into one of the world's ten largest city economies.
1. The Strategic Framework and National Transformation: A Post-Oil Vision
1.1 The Power of Play Philosophy
Qiddiya's corporate and planning identity revolves around a central philosophy: the Power of Play. This is more than a marketing slogan; it is a development pillar aimed at investing in human potential, particularly as 67% of Saudi society is under the age of 35.
The project aims to provide an environment that nurtures young talent in sports, the arts, esports, and the entertainment industry, helping build a more vibrant, prosperous, and open society.
1.2 Macroeconomic Impact and Contribution to GDP
Economic analyses of the project reveal ambitious figures reflecting the scale of investment and expectations. Once fully operational, Qiddiya is expected to contribute approximately SAR 135 billion to the Kingdom's gross domestic product and create around 325,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The table below presents the main economic targets:
2. Urban Planning and Topographic Integration: A City in the Mountains
Qiddiya extends across more than 360 square kilometers, making it three times the size of Paris, France. Located just 40 minutes from central Riyadh, it enjoys a strategic position in the heart of the Tuwaiq Mountains.
2.1 Harnessing the Natural Terrain
Instead of completely leveling the land, planners adopted an integrated approach that uses slopes and valleys to enhance the entertainment experience. This is particularly evident in:
The design of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, suspended at the edge of a 200-meter-high cliff.
The design of roller-coaster routes and the motor-racing circuit, interwoven with the rock formations.
This combination of the natural environment and advanced engineering creates a distinctive visual identity for the city, setting it apart from other global destinations built on flat terrain.
2.2 Transport Infrastructure and Connectivity
To ensure smooth movement and accommodate millions of visitors, a multimodal transport network has been designed:
External connections: A major highway and the Qiddiya High-Speed Rail project, linking the city to King Salman International Airport in a journey of just 30 minutes.
Internal connections: Eight metro stations to facilitate travel, with 20% of the area allocated to public and pedestrian spaces to promote a congestion-free city.
3. A Global Entertainment Ecosystem: Breaking Records
Theme parks form the backbone of Qiddiya's tourism appeal, designed as destinations that are either the first of their kind or the largest in the world.
3.1 Six Flags Qiddiya City: Redefining Thrills
This landmark is scheduled to officially open on December 31, 2025, becoming the first Six Flags-branded park outside North America with an entirely original design. The park includes 28 rides and experiences across six themed zones.
Key record-breaking attractions:
Falcon's Flight: The world's most extreme roller coaster—the longest, tallest, and fastest—with speeds exceeding 250 km/h and a breathtaking vertical drop.
Sirocco Tower: The world's tallest free-fall drop tower.
3.2 Aquarabia: A Water Oasis in the Desert
The Kingdom's first homegrown water park and the largest in the region, representing an investment of SAR 2.8 billion. It includes 22 rides and experiences and uses advanced technologies to reduce water waste by up to 90%, making it a model of environmental sustainability.
3.3 Dragon Ball Theme Park: The Soft Power of Anime
The world's only theme park inspired by the legendary Dragon Ball anime series, spanning more than 500,000 square meters.
The project's icon: A 70-meter-tall Shenron dragon structure housing a giant roller coaster.
4. Sports Infrastructure: The Circuits and Stadiums of the Future
Qiddiya aspires to become the region's sporting capital, drawing on infrastructure designed to host major events such as the World Cup and Formula 1 races.
4.1 Speed Park Track
Designed by former Formula 1 driver Alex Wurz and designer Hermann Tilke, it features 21 turns and elevation changes of up to 108 meters.
The Blade: The world's first suspended turn, rising 70 meters above the ground—the height of a 20-story building—with cars passing above a concert area.
4.2 Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium: A Stadium Above the Clouds
The crown jewel of Qiddiya's sports offering, located on the edge of a 200-meter-high Tuwaiq cliff. Its futuristic design features a retractable roof, movable pitch, and giant LED wall. The stadium is equipped to host matches at the 2034 World Cup.
5. The Esports Capital: The Virtual-World Economy
Qiddiya has dedicated an entire district of more than 500,000 square meters to gaming and esports, designed to house 25 clubs and 30 regional headquarters for game development companies.
Arenas: Four world-class arenas, most notably one with 5,155 seats and the largest combined area of video screens.
The sensory experience: Haptic seats allow audiences to feel movement and vibrations.
Esports World Cup: Under a strategic partnership, the district will become the official, permanent home of this global championship.
6. Digital Transformation and Cognitive Cities
In cooperation with Globant, Qiddiya is developing the PLAY LIFE Connected Experience platform, which uses artificial intelligence to deliver a personalized experience for every visitor, eliminating conventional waiting points and making the journey seamless from booking to departure.
7. Environmental Sustainability in the Heart of the Desert
Despite the environmental challenges, Qiddiya is committed to the Saudi Green Initiative through:
Water conservation: Reducing waste by 90% and using entirely recycled water for irrigation and cooling.
Waste management: Recycling 94% of solid waste and treating 90% of organic waste by 2035.
8. Implementation Status and Delivery Phases—2025 Report
Work on Qiddiya is following a precise timeline, with the latest 2025 data indicating advanced levels of completion:
Conclusion
Qiddiya is a living embodiment of Saudi Arabia's transformation toward a future based not only on natural resources, but also on human creativity. As the opening of its principal landmarks approaches at the end of 2025, attention turns to the Tuwaiq Mountains to witness the birth of a new global capital of entertainment, sports, and culture.
