SAUDI ARABIA’S ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL NEARS KEY 2030 MILESTONES.
Qiddiya City, the 360‑km² entertainment, sports, arts, and culture mega project located just southwest of Riyadh, is rapidly progressing toward its goal of becoming a global destination by 2030. As a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030, Qiddiya is designed to diversify the economy, build domestic talent, and offer world‑class experiences at scale.
On-the-Ground Progress – What’s Nearly Complete
Public signals and recent reporting confirm that several marquee attractions in Qiddiya City are now at advanced stages of construction, with openings slated in 2025:
Six Flags Qiddiya City is now approximately 89% complete. The roughly $1 billion theme park will comprise 28 rides and attractions, including Falcon’s Flight—destined to be the world’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster, soaring to 639 ft, hitting speeds of 155 mph, and spanning over 13,900 ft.
Aquarabia Water Park, adjacent to the Six Flags site, is also nearing completion at around 84%. Costing approximately $750 million, the park will feature 22 rides, including world-record water attractions: the tallest water coaster, tallest drop slide, the longest mat racer, and Saudi’s first surf pool. It also includes a first-of-its-kind underwater adventure ride with submersible cars.
Golf facilities featuring a Jack Nicklaus championship course and vast landscaped areas—are about 77% complete, with 45% of greenery installed across 1.6 million m².
Further out on the timeline, Qiddiya is preparing for even larger builds:
- Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, a $1.1 billion cliff‑top structure with a retractable roof, pitch, and LED wall, is scheduled to break ground in 2026 and open in 2029.
- The Speed Park Formula 1 circuit, a $1.9 billion FIA Grade 1 racetrack designed with dramatic elevation changes and a signature “Blade” corner, is expected to be completed around 2027.
Workforce, Scale and Economic Impact
Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), a Public Investment Fund entity, has awarded over SAR 10 billion (approx. $2.7 billion) in construction contracts to date. When fully operational, Qiddiya City is projected to house 600,000 residents, attract 48 million visitors annually, and contribute SAR 135 billion ($36 billion) to Saudi GDP each year. It will also generate over 325,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs spanning tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and related sectors.
World‑First Attractions Under Construction
Falcon’s Flight, now mechanically complete and on schedule to debut in late 2025, is the coaster everyone’s watching. It uses Intamin’s LSM magnetic launches, climbs 639 ft, drops 519 ft, reaches 155 mph, and skirts alongside the future F1 circuit. The ride will also feature aerodynamic windshields to protect riders from desert sand.
Meanwhile, Aquarabia’s iconic rides—such as Junoon Drop (world’s tallest water coaster), the longest mat racer, and the surf‑pool‑based wave lagoon—combine immersive design with sustainability features like 75% lower water usage and rainwater recycling.
Vision 2030 Goals – Beyond the Attractions
Qiddiya is much more than rides, it embodies five strategic pillars: Parks & Attractions; Sports & Wellness; Motion & Mobility; Arts & Culture; and Nature & Environment. Its master plan includes zones such as Resort Core, Motion Zone, Eco Zone, Qiddiya Village and Golf Community, all designed to integrate with the natural Tuwaiq mountain landscape.
As a youth‑focused destination, 67% of Saudi citizens are under 35, Qiddiya aims to offer newly trained Saudi talent opportunities in esports, hospitality, sports management, engineering and creative fields, in alignment with Vision 2030’s social and economic diversification objectives.
Other notable planned features include a massive gaming and esports district with venues for 73,000 attendees, a world‑first Dragon Ball theme park spanning half a million square metres, and a performing arts centre.
What Has Opened Already?
While the flagship attractions remain under construction, Qiddiya has begun opening smaller infrastructure and enabling works. These include roads, landscaping, utilities, and residential/community facilities to support early-phase operations. However, the headline experiences—Six Flags, Aquarabia, Speed Park, and the Stadium—are expected to debut between late 2025 and 2029/27, with full opening targeted by 2030, consistent with Vision 2030 timelines.
Why Qiddiya Matters
- Economic diversification: Qiddiya contributes to reducing reliance on oil by boosting tourism, creating thousands of jobs, and injecting billions into GDP.
- Youth empowerment: By providing domestic entertainment, training and career opportunities, the project responds directly to the Kingdom’s young demographic.
- International positioning: With world-record rides and world-first facilities, Qiddiya aims to place Saudi Arabia on the global map of tourism and leisure.
A Look Ahead – Vision in Action
As 2025 approaches, the opening of Six Flags Qiddiya and Aquarabia will offer visitors unprecedented thrills and draw international attention. By 2027, the Speed Park F1 circuit will inaugurate world-class motorsport amidst dramatic desert elevation. From 2026 to 2029, construction will continue toward delivering the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, setting a new benchmark for venue design and technological sophistication.
Beyond these anchor developments, the continued rollout of esports venues, art and culture hubs, and community amenities will transform Qiddiya into a full‑scale city, planned for over 600,000 residents and welcoming tens of millions of visitors annually by 2030.
Qiddiya City is no longer just a visionary plan—it is underway. With major attractions circling toward opening, massive contracts, world-record thrills, and infrastructure unfolding across the desert terrain, it stands as a tangible beacon of Vision 2030. By 2030, the destination is expected to ignite Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, empower new generations of Saudis, diversify the economy, and offer immersive experiences world‑wide.
The countdown is on and Qiddiya is already building the future.
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