Construction is likely to start this year on Saudi Arabia's mega leisure, sports and cultural destination, Qiddiya, at Riyadh, said a report.

Qiddiya, one of the three mega-projects, besides the Neom smart-city and the Red Sea Project launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will be located about 40 km from the city centre.

The planning and design work was completed in 2018 and the project is set to be implemented this year, reported Arab News citing a senior official.

The first phase of the project will officially open in 2022, with its final phase ending in 2035, revealed Mike Reininger, the CEO of the Qiddiya project.

It is expected to be the world’s largest entertainment city by 2030, with a total area of 334 sq km, surpassing Walt Disney World in Florida, which is only 110 sq km, he stated.

The project targets local, regional and international tourists and will be Saudi Arabia’s pre-eminent entertainment, sports and cultural destination that embodies the Saudi identity, he added.

Developing the entertainment sector by creating high-quality domestic and international investments within the kingdom is one of the main goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. These projects will have a huge positive impact on the country’s economy and quality of life, said the top official.

Reininger pointed out that the youth demographic would be the main contributor to Qiddiya’s success since two-thirds of the Saudi population is under the age of 35.

"Therefore, the project aims to satisfy the recreational, social and cultural needs of the country’s current and future generations. This project will also contribute to the real estate development of the area, offering 4,000 residential units by 2025 and 11,000 by 2030. It aims to attract residents who want to buy second homes at Qiddiya for weekends and vacations," he added.