FIFA World Cup 2034 Saudi Arabia; Expo 2030 Riyadh; The AlUla Tour; it’s exciting times in Saudi Arabia and the major announcements show no sign of stopping.
The latest news from the Kingdom will see an entire city built from scratch, capable of hosting 48 million visitors per year. Yes, Qiddiya City, located 40 minutes outside the capital, Riyadh, is set to welcome visitors as early as next year, promising tourists and residents a never-built-before array of world-class attractions and venues.
Revealed by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), the city is one of Saudi’s giga-projects, completely dedicated to “play” and is a key part of the country’s Vision 2030.
So, what to expect from this new city?
Set to overlook the cliffs of the Tuwaiq mountains, Qiddiya City will include a gaming and esports district which is hoped to become a global hub for competitive gamers and tournaments, having already partnered up with the world’s biggest esports festival, Gamers8.
Moving from indoors to outdoors, Qiddiya Water Theme Park will be the largest in the region with eight different zones, 81 luxury cabanas as well as the GCC’s first surf school for all levels of surfers. When you have dried off, it will be time to increase the adrenaline levels at Six Flags Qiddiya City. The amusement park will offer 28 rides including the world’s longest, tallest, and fastest rollercoaster in the world, Falcon’s Flight.
Sports fans will also have plenty to entertain themselves with. Golfers will be able to test themselves on two championship golf courses, one of which will be designed by the sport’s most successful major winner, Jack Nicklaus with motorheads having the opportunity to satisfy their need for speed on a FIA grade 1 racetrack. And if that wasn’t enough, the city will also be home to a multipurpose stadium that will host major sporting clashes and concerts.