Riyadh,
\nSaudi Arabia’s King Salman has launched construction of an “entertainment city” near Riyadh, part of a series of multi-billion dollar projects aimed at helping the oil-dependent kingdom diversify its economy.<\/p>\n
The project is part of a sweeping reform and investment programme dubbed “Vision 2030”, the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also attended the launch ceremony at the site on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
Authorities have touted the 334-square kilometre (130 square mile) project in Qiddiya, southwest of the capital, as the kingdom’s answer to Disneyland.<\/p>\n
Its first phase, which includes high-end theme parks, motor sport facilities and a safari area, is expected to be completed in 2022, officials say.<\/p>\n
They hope the park will draw in foreign investment and attract 17 million visitors by 2030.<\/p>\n
The kingdom this month hosted its first public film screening in over 35 years, having lifted a decades-long ban on cinemas last year.<\/p>\n
In February, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority said it would stage more than 5,000 festivals and concerts in 2018, double last year’s figure, and pump $64 billion (53 billion euros) into the sector in the coming decade.<\/p>\n
Saudis currently splurge billions of dollars annually to see films and visit amusement parks in neighbouring tourist hubs like Dubai and Bahrain.<\/p>\n
The kingdom has also sought to court investors with three hi-tech “giga projects”, funded in part by its sovereign wealth fund.<\/p>\n
Aside from Qiddiya, the kingdom has unveiled blueprints for NEOM \u2014 billed as a regional Silicon Valley to be built from scratch \u2014 and a reef fringed resort destination on the Red Sea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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