Saudi Entertaintment Ventures, part of the country’s Public Investment Fund, is planning to invest 50bn Saudi Riyals (US$13.3bn) to build 21 integrated entertainment destinations in 14 cities across the country.
It is part of the state’s focus on diversifying its economy away from oil and the destinations will involve partnerships with big international brands including Mattel, Warner Bros and Clip ‘n Climb.
Construction on the first venue has already begun in Riyadh and the chairman of Seven, Adbullah Al Dawood, told The National that the entertainment sector is full of opportunities that will provide an important role in growing the national economy. It will include an indoor adventure centre featuring Clip ‘n Climb and a licensed Transformers attraction.
Meanwhile, a site in Al Hamra will cover more than 90,000sq.m and include a 10-lane bowling alley, indoor go-karts and a cinema, among other attractions.
The country is developing a number of other projects, including the new city of Neom and Qiddiya, an entertainment and sports project in Riyadh.
New laws were passed this year that aim to boost the number of tourists the country attracts, with the aim of growing the sector to 10 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s GDP by 2030.
