Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Qiddiya, featuring an innovative and unprecedented futuristic design globally. It stated that the stadium will be built in the heart of the city, only 40 minutes away from Riyadh, specifically on one of the peaks of Tuwaiq Mountain at an elevation of 200 meters.
The design of the stadium was carried out by the leading global architecture firm Populous, and it is set to become the world's first fully integrated venue with an opening retractable roof and an LED wall. This architectural innovation showcases unparalleled diversity and allows the space to transform to host various events within minutes.
Additionally, the stadium will be equipped with advanced climate control technology, enabling it to host events and competitions year-round without consuming large amounts of energy. This will be achieved through the establishment of an environmentally friendly cooling lake directly beneath the stadium, which will pump rainwater collected from the stadium and surrounding area into a snow wall, resulting in cooling the air entering its central air conditioning system while meeting gold LEED standards for sustainable design.
Last December, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the Chairman of the Qiddiya Investment Company, launched the urban master plan for the Qiddiya city and its global brand. He explained that Qiddiya will soon become the most prominent globally in entertainment, sports, and culture, reflecting positively on the Kingdom's economy and its international standing, enhancing the Riyadh city strategy and contributing to its economic growth and quality of life to become one of the world's top 10 cities economically.
The Saudi Crown Prince noted that this qualitative investment in Qiddiya is a cornerstone of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the sources of the local economy and create thousands of job opportunities for ambitious Saudi youth.
Qiddiya, considered one of the major projects of the Public Investment Fund, plays a fundamental role in supporting the Kingdom's tourism and economic objectives, alongside improving the quality of life for residents and visitors. It will attract local, regional, and international investors, thus supporting Riyadh city. Work on the project has already begun with an investment of approximately 10 billion riyals in construction projects.
The Qiddiya brand embraces the concept of play based on decades of research that demonstrate the vital role of play in human cognitive development, emotional expression, social skills, creativity, and physical health. Studies have also shown the positive impacts of recreational activities on society, their ability to bridge differences among individuals, and their enhancement of empathy and social cohesion.
Qiddiya aims to provide numerous enjoyable experiences in the areas of entertainment, sports, and culture. The city will consist of 60,000 buildings across 360 square kilometers, accommodating over 600,000 residents, alongside creating more than 325,000 quality jobs. This is expected to increase the Gross Domestic Product by approximately 135 billion Saudi riyals, with a target of welcoming 48 million visits annually due to its inclusion of various world-class landmarks and unique attractions.
Located in the heart of the Tuwaiq Mountains, just 40 minutes from downtown Riyadh, Qiddiya boasts exceptional views of natural landmarks and unique environmental resources. It will include a global eSports hub, a dedicated motorsports area, a Formula 1 racetrack, two golf courses, a sports complex with the largest Olympic museum in the world, a Six Flags amusement park, and a water theme park, with the first assets set to open within the next two years.
In a related context, the board of directors of Qiddiya Investment Company announced the launch of the eSports and gaming area within Qiddiya, which will be the first multi-use gaming and eSports zone in the world, aimed at attracting players from around the globe and enhancing Saudi Arabia's position as a global hub for eSports and gaming.
