Qiddiya (, ) is a planned entertainment and tourism

megaproject A megaproject is an extremely large-scale construction and investment project. A more general definition is "Megaprojects are temporary endeavours (i.e. projects) characterised by: large investment commitment, vast complexity (especially in org ...

Riyadh Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in th ...

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...

. Construction started at the beginning of 2019. It was planned to open in 2023, though as of 2024, major projects including

Six Flags Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is an American amusement park company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It was formed on July 2, 2024, following a merger between longtime rivals Cedar Fair and the former Six Flags ...

Qiddiya City, the Aquarabia waterpark, and the

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

racetrack are under construction and incomplete (with the racetrack now being scheduled to open in 2027). It is part of the

Saudi Vision 2030 Saudi Vision 2030 (, sometimes called Project 2030) is a government program launched by Saudi Arabia which aims to achieve the goal of increased diversification economically, socially, and culturally, in line with the vision of Saudi crown pri ...

program, which aims to diversify the Saudi economy.

History

The project, which was announced in April 2017, is part of a goal to increase local spending and diversify the Saudi economy under

. The project is supported by the

Public Investment Fund The Public Investment Fund (PIF; ) is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. It is among the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world with total estimated assets of billion. It was created in 1971 for the purpose of investing funds on be ...

. According to the organizers, the total number of annual visitors will by 2030 reach 17 million, and be the "largest tourism destination worldwide". It is expected to create 325,000 jobs. The first phase of the project was planned to be completed by 2023, though it was later pushed back to 2025. Upon the completion of this phase, 45 individual projects are to be completed. There is a partnership agreement between Qiddiya and the

University of Central Florida The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public university, public research university with its main campus in unincorporated area, unincorporated Orange County, Florida, United States. It is part of the State University System of Florida. ...

to train young Saudis on hospitality, tourism and sports management.

Proposed activities

Qiddiya Speed Park

An FIA

Grade 1 First grade (also 1st Grade or Grade 1) is the first year of formal or compulsory education. It is the first year of elementary school, and the first school year after kindergarten. Children in first grade are usually 6–7 years old. Examples ...

motor racing circuit, Qiddiya Speed Park, is expected to hold a

MotoGP Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the highest class of motorcycle road racing events held on Road racing, road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held sin ...

race, currently planned for 2027. Construction delays to the racing circuit have caused numerous issues. The

inaugural In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inau ...

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix () is an annual Formula One motor racing event which took place for the first time in 2021. The inaugural edition of the race was held in Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, where it is schedule ...

was scheduled to be held at the course in December 2021, but because construction was unfinished, the event took place at the

Jeddah Corniche Circuit The Jeddah Corniche Circuit () is a motor racing street circuit built in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia. The circuit staged the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 5 December 2021 as the penultimate race on the Formula One ...

. Because of the

Formula One Group The Formula One Group is a group of companies responsible for the Promotion (marketing), promotion of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA Formula One World Championship, and the exercising of the sport's commercial rights. The ...

announcement in November 2020 that a Grand Prix would be held at the circuit in 2021, the Saudi government allegedly paid tens of millions dollars to maintain hosting rights after completion of the project was delayed until 2027. The announcement led to criticism against Saudi Arabia from

human rights organizations :''The list is incomplete; please add known articles or create missing ones'' The following is a list of articles on the human rights organizations of the world. It does not include political parties, or academic institutions. The list includes ...

for attempting to sportswash its image.

Six Flags Qiddiya

Qiddiya, which is currently under construction, is planned to be the largest theme park in the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

at , and is expected to have multiple attractions. Notable attractions will include

Falcons Flight Falcons Flight is an upcoming steel launched roller coaster located at Six Flags Qiddiya, part of the Qiddiya mega project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Upon opening, it will become the world's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster. History ...

, the world's fastest, tallest, and longest roller coaster, (which will partly go over the Qiddiya circuit) and the world's tallest

drop tower A drop tower is a type of amusement park ride incorporating a central tower structure with one or more gondolas attached. In a typical modern configuration, each gondola carrying riders is lifted to the top of the tower and then released t ...

ride.

Dragon Ball theme park

In March 2024, Qiddiya, in collaboration with

Toei Animation is a Japanese animation studio primarily controlled by its namesake Toei Company. It has produced numerous series, including '' Sally the Witch'', '' GeGeGe no Kitarō'', '' Mazinger Z'', '' Galaxy Express 999'', '' Cutie Honey'', '' Dr. Slu ...

, announced the construction of the "world's only ever

Dragon Ball is a Japanese media franchise created by Akira Toriyama in 1984. The Dragon Ball (manga), initial manga, written and illustrated by Toriyama, was Serial (literature), serialized in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1984 to 1995, with the 519 indi ...

theme park". It is planned to include over 30 attractions, including a "70 meter-high

Shenron ''Dragon Ball'' is a Japanese media franchise created by Akira Toriyama in 1984. The franchise features an ensemble cast of characters and takes place in the same fictional universe as Toriyama's other work, ''Dr. Slump''. While many of the cha ...

" statue that contains a roller coaster. Upon the park being announced it was met with negative reception from international Dragon Ball fans who criticized Saudi Arabia's humans rights record, treatment of women, and lack of recognition of LGBT rights.

References

External links

* {{coord, 24.58, 46.32, display=title

Six Flags Qiddiya Qiddiya (, ) is a planned entertainment and tourism megaproject in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Construction started at the beginning of 2019. It was planned to open in 2023, though as of 2024, major projects including Six Flags Qiddiya City, the Aquar ...

Megaprojects Planned communities in Saudi Arabia Tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia