Qiddiya has the ambition to become the entertainment capital of Saudi Arabia. A gigantic complex of more than 330 km² which should open its doors in 2022.
Qiddiya or the new entertainment capital of the world. Located in Saudi Arabia, this new “Las Vegas” was imagined by the prolific Danish architect Bjarke Ingels and his agency BIG. This ambitious project is under construction just 45 kilometers south of Riyadh, the country’s capital. Plans for the massive site include numerous attractions including cinemas, safaris, luxury hotels, skating facilities, ski slopes, golf courses and a Formula 1 racing circuit.
More than 330 km2 dedicated to fun, sports and art. Concerned about its ecological footprint, the project respects the natural landscape of the region and provides for a series of pedestrian and cycling routes. Thus, 70% of the site will be dedicated to nature conservation.
This gigantic construction site is part of the Vision 2030 plan of the Crown Prince, Mohammed ben Salmane, who is multiplying grandiose projects in order to make his country shine and create an image of a modern-day builder. Erecting entertainment buildings with a futuristic look is intended to attract young workers in a country where 70% of the population is under 30 years old. Qiddiya, the eponymous investment company, hopes the project will become the entertainment and cultural kingdom of the Middle East. The program is also expected to generate thousands of new jobs in a wide range of sectors.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
The partial opening of the complex is scheduled for 2022. Rides, roller coasters and other attractions will already be installed and divided into six thematic areas. One of them will be a 100% water park, another will be focused on sports, and another on motor sports.
A funicular will connect the residential, commercial and professional environments to the water park overlooking them. Intended to be open 24/7, the complex also includes a mosque, a creative campus, workspaces, media facilities, a private school, a sports medicine hospital and clifftop villas.
Other iconic architectural buildings have come from the fertile imagination of Bjarke Ingels, such as the Galeries Lafayette on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées inaugurated last March, or the new tower at the Two World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York.
