Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the kingdom's new recreational, sports and cultural hub, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

 

The project will be built in Qiddiya area, some 40 km west of the Saudi capital Riyadh. It is expected to be the largest and most important tourist destination in the region, making Riyadh a tourist hotspot, reports said.

 

"About two-thirds of the kingdom's population are under the age of 35. There is a great need for the project to provide them with entertainment. The project will save about $30 billion which will be used to develop the domestic economy and create new job opportunities for the Saudi youths," said Dr Fahd bin Abdullah Tounsi, secretary general of the Foundation Council of Qiddiya Project under the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

 

Some of the entertainment facilities at Qiddiya will include training academies, desert and asphalt tracks for motorsports enthusiasts, water and snow activities, outdoor adventures, safaris and nature experiences.

 

Visitors can also expect historical, cultural and educational events. Other features will include commercial centres, restaurants, cafes, hotels, real estate project opportunities and services that meet the needs of all segments of society.

 

The 334-sq-km Qiddiya project will include recreational options and sports and cultural activities, including toy cities, recreation centres and sports facilities capable of hosting world-class competitions, training academies, desert and asphalt tracks for motorsports enthusiasts, water and snow recreation activities, outdoor adventure activities, safari and nature experiences as well as historical, cultural and scientific activities. 

 

The project will also include shopping centres, restaurants, cafes, hotels, real estate projects, and services that meet the aspirations of all segments of society, SPA said.

 

The CEO of the project, Michael Reininger, said that the project is aimed at building a bright future through a range of recreational sports and cultural facilities that cater to everyone -- from amusement parks to game cities, racing fields and safaris.

 

He added that the project is based on five main pillars: parks and attractions, mobility, nature and the environment, sports and health, culture, arts and education.

 

Reininger called on investors, innovators and operators from around the world to explore what a unique project such as Qiddiya can offer.

 

He pointed out that the project represents a basic building block within the Vision 2030, which will contribute to the new momentum for the growth of creative industries in Saudi Arabia, pointing out that two-thirds of the Saudi people are almost under the age of 35 years, and more than seven million people live within an area not more than 40 km from the project site, which confirms to international investors a huge untapped market.

 

The project is more than 2.5 times the size of Disney World, or 100 times the size of Central Park. It will receive 17 million visitors by 2030, attracting 12 million shopping trips and two million visits to various hospitality facilities, he said.

 

He added: "By providing activities and events that match the expectations and imagination of our visitors, Qiddiya will succeed in recovering some of the annual Saudi spending on tourism and leisure activities outside the kingdom, amounting to about $ 30 billion. This will be used to stimulate the local economy and the development of a large number of new projects. These efforts will also result in job opportunities for Saudis in many innovative areas of work. By 2030, we expect to provide 57,000 new jobs for Saudi nationals in this growing sector. " -TradeArabia News Service