04 Aug 2024
RIYADH: The cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia is being enriched as the entertainment sector undergoes significant expansion.
The ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, which strives to diversify the economy and increase global engagement, is the driving force behind this broader cultural transformation.
One prime example of the Kingdom’s initiatives aimed at propelling the entertainment sector is the Qiddiya giga-project.
Launched in 2018 under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Qiddiya is an emerging capital for entertainment, sports and culture that aims to build destinations, programs and initiatives based on the power of play that will enhance the quality of life of visitors and residents.
Qiddiya’s role in propelling the Kingdom’s entertainment sector
Qiddiya is just one of several large-scale entertainment projects in the Kingdom but, dubbed the “Capital of Entertainment, Sports, and the Arts,” there is no doubting its importance as one of the cornerstones of the sector.
Canadian company AtkinsRéalis is the lead design consultancy for the project, and the firm’s Global Director of Creative, Theming and Show Design Bradley Caruk set out his vision for Qiddiya to Arab News.
“Having worked in the global entertainment industry for the past 25 years, I have learnt we are all the same. Everyone wants to have fun. With major innovative parks like Six Flags Qiddiya City, we have the unexpected – a fully immersive story-driven theme park experience,” he said.
Caruk added that the attraction will have “the world’s tallest, longest, fastest rides”, and said: “We even support the storyline further by including original music compositions.”
Sector expert Jamie Ryder, a partner at Entertainment & Media Industry Group at law firm Reed Smith, told Arab News that Qiddiya has a huge amount of “disruptive potential.”