Qiddiya and the Business of Entertainment Tourism: Big Bets in Theme Parks, Sport, and Leisure

Qiddiya City is an under-construction planned city and tourism megaproject in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. The qiddiya project was announced in April 2017 as part of Saudi Vision 2030, which targets a diversified economy and higher domestic tourism and entertainment spending. The project is supported by the Public Investment Fund and is positioned as a large-scale entertainment, sports, and cultural destination near Riyadh. Construction began in early 2019, and early projections estimated annual visitation of up to 17 million by 2030 and the creation of approximately 325,000 jobs.

For entertainment tourism, scale is the product. A project profile describes qiddiya as spanning over 360 km across more than 20 neighborhoods, with a stated total construction cost of USD 40 billion. The same profile lists a pipeline of 400 attractions, 275 rides, 12 theme parks, 2,000 art installations, and 43 sports facilities, plus 73,000 seats across multiple esports venues. It also says Qiddiya City aims to house over 500,000 people. This kind of city-sized inventory supports longer stays and repeat visits, which is core to the business of leisure travel.

Theme Parks as Anchors for Year-Round Demand

Theme parks are the clearest anchors in the qiddiya plan. Wikipedia lists major developments such as Six Flags Qiddiya City and the Aquarabia waterpark, plus a planned Dragon Ball theme park described as the first of its kind worldwide. Six Flags Qiddiya City opened on 31 December 2025 as the first operational asset of Qiddiya City, marking the initial public opening of the wider development. Another travel report frames Six Flags Qiddiya City as the first Six Flags theme park to open outside of North America. The same report also describes the Aquaarabia waterpark as nearly finished.

Leisure tourism also relies on variety, not just rides. Alongside parks, the project is described as including international sports arenas, concerts, entertainment venues, racetracks, and outdoor and adventure activities. A Travel and Tour World report says Qiddiya is poised to become a central hub for both leisure and business tourism, with cultural, sporting, and entertainment offerings. The same outlet also reported plans for a Universal Studios theme park in Qiddiya, while noting it is still in the planning phase and has no formal approvals granted for construction.

Access and mobility shape how often people visit and how long they stay. On 21 September 2025, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced plans for the Qiddiya High Speed Railway, with three stations: King Salman International Airport, the King Abdullah Financial District, and Qiddiya City. On 22 December 2025, plans were announced for Riyadh Metro Line 7, with the first phase scheduled for implementation in 2026. These links support a destination model where visitors can combine city breaks, events, and day trips around qiddiya.

At the same time, the business of destination building can attract scrutiny. Wikipedia notes criticism from international observers and human rights organisations, including claims of sportswashing and concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, including issues affecting LGBT people. It also cites labour and human rights concerns: in 2024, UK Export Finance classified the project as Category A under its social and environmental risk framework due to potential for significant adverse environmental and social impacts during construction and operation. Human Rights Watch reported risks linked to the Kafala system, wage theft, and heat stress for migrant workers in megaprojects including Qiddiya City, and the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre documented concerns about worker safety incidents at qiddiya construction sites.