This January, out of the desert sands, a flotilla of hard-charging motorcycles, sports cars, quads, trucks, and buggies powered over the dunes, racing to the finish line of the 2020 Dakar Rally—the first-ever edition of the legendary competition to be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Their final destination? Qiddiya.
Qiddiya is a the giant entertainment, sports, and arts city under construction just outside Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
It is a natural choice for a race that bills itself as the world’s most extreme endurance rally. Qiddiya is a place of superlatives; a Six Flags theme park being built here will feature the longest, fastest, and tallest rollercoaster in the world, and the tallest drop-tower ride.
The sheer scale of Qiddiya defies the imagination. To put its size into context, the record-breaking Six Flags theme park will be just one of several tentpole attractions in the site’s Resort Core, alongside a race track and a waterpark.
The Resort Core will be home to a range of hotels and numerous options for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
“No project of this scale has ever been done before,” says Kareem Shamma, chief development officer of the Qiddiya Investment Company.
Overlooking the Resort Core, Qiddiya’s City Centre will host premier sports competitions in venues that include a 20,000-seat clifftop stadium, an indoor arena, and an aquatic center. It will also be home to a creative workspace village, a grand mosque, and a performing arts theater that will seat 2,000 people.
Meanwhile, the Eco Zone will offer visitors the chance to enjoy outdoor sporting adventures, encounters with wildlife, and unique nature experiences deep within the stunning desert landscape. A Motion Core will include racing, karting, and off-road driving for motorsports enthusiasts. Finally, for guests who prefer more sedate leisure options, a Golf Residential Community and resort will be home to a world-class signature championship golf course, as well as a spa, equestrian facilities, and private villas.
“Qiddiya is a giga-project. It is huge by definition and unique by nature.”
Kareem Shamma, Chief Development Officer, Qiddiya Investment Company
Along with the thousands of jobs that will be created across new economic sectors, Qiddiya will also help to retain some of the $10 billion annually that Saudis spend on leisure and shopping trips abroad, by giving young Saudis access, for the first time, to the very best in global entertainment, right on their doorstep.
“Saudi Arabia is a market that up until very recently has been short on entertainment opportunities,” says Qiddiya CEO Michael Reininger. “We will provide Saudis with the entertainment and leisure options that they are craving.”
As Saudi inbound tourism grows and a new E-visa process kicks in, international visitors from within and outside the Middle East will be an important source of demand ahead of the planned grand opening of Qiddiya in early 2023.
Given the excitement generated by the project, it is no surprise that a steady stream of investors, contractors, consultants, and operators are making their way to the Visitor Experience Centre at Qiddiya to size up the opportunities.
“Qiddiya is a magnet for potential business partners,” Shamma says. “Whether it’s a renowned hospitality brand, an investor looking for a promising market, or an entrepreneur with a unique idea for a restaurant or retail offering, Qiddiya has something for everyone”
As published in FORTUNE magazine
