Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, who is also the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Qiddiya Investment Company, launched the urban plan for Qiddiya City and its global brand today, Thursday. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that Qiddiya City will soon become a leading destination globally in entertainment, sports, and culture, positively impacting the Saudi economy and its international standing, enhancing the strategy for the capital, Riyadh, and contributing to economic growth and improved quality of life, aiming to make it one of the top 10 city economies in the world. He added that this qualitative investment in Qiddiya is a key pillar of "Vision 2030," which aims to diversify sources of local economic income and create thousands of job opportunities for ambitious youth.
The city of Qiddiya, as part of the major projects of the Public Investment Fund, is an essential contributor to Saudi Arabia's tourism and economic goals, as well as improving the quality of life for residents and visitors, and will help attract local, regional, and international investors, thereby supporting the city of Riyadh. Work on the project has already begun, with approximately 10 billion Saudi riyals invested in construction projects.
Qiddiya's brand adopts the concept of play, based on decades of research showing that play is vital for human cognitive development, emotional expression, social skills, creativity, and physical health. Studies have also demonstrated the positive effects of recreational activities on society, their ability to bridge differences among individuals, and enhance empathy and social cohesion.
Qiddiya aims to provide enjoyable experiences in entertainment, sports, and culture, consisting of 60,000 buildings across 360 square kilometers, accommodating over 600,000 residents, and offering more than 325,000 quality job opportunities, which will contribute to an increase in the gross domestic product of approximately 135 billion Saudi riyals. The city aims to attract 48 million annual visits thanks to its world-class attractions and unique character.
Located in the heart of the Tuwaiq Mountains, Qiddiya is just 40 minutes from downtown Riyadh and boasts exceptional views of unique natural landmarks and environmental treasures. It will feature a global hub for e-gaming, an area for motorsports, a Formula 1 racing track, two golf courses, a sports city for football with the largest Olympic museum in the world, as well as a Six Flags theme park and a water park, with the first assets set to open in the next two years.
