Saudi Arabia’s state entertainment developer Saudi Entertainment Ventures (“Seven”) has picked Indian contractor Shapoorji Pallonji to build the first of 21 planned fun parks in the country to kickstart an attraction-based leisure economy.
Seven will spend $797m on the 90,000-sq-m park in the Al Hamra district of Riyadh. Activities offered there will include indoor surfing and skydiving, climbing, karting, and bowling.
It’s built-up area will be 167,000 sq m. Seven expects it to attract 6 million visitors a year.
“We are already executing multiple projects in Saudi Arabia and this project will certainly add significantly to our business portfolio,” said Shapoorji Pallonji chief executive Mohandass Saini.
Boosting jobs and tourism
Seven is mandated to spend just over $13bn creating 21 fun parks in 14 cities in the kingdom to create jobs and boost tourism. It plans parks in Riyadh, Kharj, Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Dammam, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Madinah, Yanbu, Abha, Jazan, Buraidah, and Tabuk.
It has secured partnerships with entertainment companies including Clip ‘n Climb, Warner Bros., Discovery, Mattel, and Hasbro.
Seven is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
