Gulf Construction Online - Game-changing ‘City of Play’

Saudi Arabia

Work is in progress on a number of theme parks at Qiddiya.

Game-changing ‘City of Play’

01 May 2024

Qiddiya City, the world’s first aspiring “City of Play”, announced two game-changing projects in March – a groundbreaking racetrack and the colossal Dragon Ball theme park – raising the bar for both sports and entertainment.

These new launches come shortly after the unveiling of two other guaranteed crowd-pleasers, setting Qiddiya on course for global entertainment dominance: the innovative Gaming and Esports District, which is poised to become the first multi-use gaming and esports district in the world and the iconic Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, the world’s first fully integrated venue that seamlessly blends a retractable roof, pitch, and LED wall.

Across Qiddiya’s sprawling desert expanse, a metamorphosis is under way under the guidance of Qiddiya Investment Company, a leading Saudi group backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The once-quiet desert is now a buzzing hive of activity. Soaring tubular steel structures that will transform into adrenaline-pumping rides pierce the sky – a testament to Qiddiya’s ambitious vision rapidly taking shape across its 360-sq-km site.

Being built from scratch in the desert 45 km outside Riyadh and overlooking the stunning cliffs of the formidable Tuwaiq mountains, Qiddiya City will include a speed park track, Dragon Ball theme park, a massive water theme park, Six Flags Qiddiya, a Gaming & Esports District, golf courses, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium and the world’s largest Olympic museum. It will also include some 60,000 buildings.

Work is in progress on a number of theme parks at Qiddiya including the water park and the Six Flags park, which will offer 28 rides and attractions including Falcon’s Flight – a world-first and its signature ride, which will be the longest, tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world.

Speed Park Track will be the first of its kind to feature both an open track and street configurations.

Speed Park Track

The latest launch at Qiddiya, the Speed Park Track extends seamlessly through surrounding areas and attractions including theme parks, promenades and hospitality spaces, creating an unmatched thrilling experience for visitors and guests by placing them right at the core. It will offer unique features never seen before, for competitors and spectators alike, according to QIC.

The circuit will be the first of its kind in the world to feature both an open track and street configurations. Among its highlights are: the first cantilevered track section in the world; and the highest track elevation, the iconic ‘Blade’.

The configurable Speed Park Track is designed by Austrian former Formula One driver Alex Wurz and German circuit designer Hermann Tilke. This teamwork of race drivers pushes boundaries of racing to the extreme, featuring 21 corners and allowing drivers to go over 325 km per hour on the track, utilising Qiddiya City’s dramatic landscape to create over 108 m of elevation gain per lap.

‘Blade’ rises more than 20 storeys above the ground.

Its centrepiece will be the pioneering ‘Blade’ at Turn One – an awe-inspiring elevated section of circuit that dramatically rises more than 20 storeys above the ground. As much as 80 per cent of the track is adjacent to buildings, integrating with the surroundings.

Dragon Ball park

The second project unveiled in March was the Dragon Ball park, which will offer anime fans, families and entertainment seekers an immersive journey into the iconic Dragon Ball universe. This never-seen-before anime theme park is set to become a jaw-dropping spectacle, spanning more than 500,000 sq m. Inspired by the seven legendary Dragon Balls, visitors can navigate seven distinctively themed zones within the park that will catapult them into the heart of the anime action to experience the historic journey from the first Dragon Ball series to the latest Dragon Ball Super, according to QIC.

Dragon Ball park offers over 30 rides with five ground-breaking attractions.

The anime theme park offers over 30 rides with five ground-breaking attractions. A flagship attraction located at the centre of the park has a rollercoaster passing through a massive 70-m Shenron landmark.

Gaming and Esports District

In December last year, QIC launched the Gaming and Esports District, the first multi-use gaming and esports district in the world, which will cover more than 500,000 sq m, including 100,000 sq m dedicated to retail, dining and entertainment.

Gaming & Esports District will cover more than 500,000 sq m.

Once completed, it will become the place for gamers to live, work and play, with gaming-themed apartments and hotels, according to QIC.

The Gaming and Esports District is expected to include four arenas designed to the highest standards to host the most prominent global events in the gaming sector throughout the year, with the capacity of the stadiums reaching 73,000 seats.

One of the venues will have 5,300 seats, making it one of the three largest esports stadiums in the world. It will also feature what is claimed to be the largest indoor LED screen among all esports areas around the world. The district will also host up to 25 esports clubs from around the world to live, train and compete.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium will be a futuristic venue perched atop the 200-m-high Tuwaiq escarpment. Designed by leading global architectural firm Populous, the stadium will feature a combined retractable roof, pitch and LED wall, an architectural innovation offering unparalleled versatility and allowing the space to transform into different “event modes” in a matter of hours, according to QIC.

The LED wall will be a portal to live event broadcasts, high-definition films and laser shows, offering guests a novel, immersive experience with each visit. When not activated, it will open to reveal breathtaking views of Qiddiya City.

Qiddiya is taking shape across its 360-sq-km site.

The development aims to revolutionise the traditional stadium experience with its immersive design and unique technological features, putting spectators at the centre of the show. The stadium is expected to deploy cutting-edge technology to provide fans with instant access to live data and information including the use of state-of-the-art holographic technology, enabling virtual interactions with celebrities and stars.

Integrated into the city fabric through a variety of transportation choices including park ‘n ride and drop-off zones, the stadium will also be within direct proximity to 50,000 sq m of shopping, dining and entertainment spaces as well as hotel options.

Once open, the stadium will serve as the home ground of Saudi Pro League football clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr and is one of the proposed venues for the kingdom’s 2034 FIFA World Cup bid. It is also poised to host some of the region’s biggest sports events including the Saudi King Cup, the Asian Cup and possibly the 2034 Asian Games.

The venue will be able to host events all year-round in its climate-controlled facilities, where energy consumption will be reduced through an eco-friendly cooling lake built directly under the stadium. The lake will use rainwater captured from the stadium and the surrounding area to pre-cool the air-conditioning system.