Transforming Tourism & Unlocking New Sectors
The 14 Giga-Projects across Saudi Arabia are shaping the country in-line with Vision 2030 and are a selection of schemes being designed to oversee a significant transformation of the Saudi Arabian economy. Over the coming pages RLI offers a breakdown on each of the unique projects currently under construction.
Developed as part of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan to transform the country, the series of giant developments are known as giga-projects. Each is huge in scale and ambition, and many are directly funded by the country’s sovereign wealth fund – the Public Investment Fund. Others, such as the Mohammed bin Salman Non-profit City, are funded by the crown prince himself. Read on to learn a little more about each of them.
Giga-Projects Across Saudi Arabia
A place of extraordinary human and natural heritage, AIUIA invites visitors to come on a journey through a living museum of preserved tombs, sandstone outcrops, historic dwellings, and monuments, both natural and human-made, holding 200,000 years of largely unexplored human history. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long been a crossroads of ancient civilizations — a place of deep history, but one that is constantly evolving. AlUla is an extraordinary example of this. Developed by the French Agency for the development of AIUIa (Afalula) and the Royal Commission for AIUIa (RCU), AIUIa is at the forefront of the Vision 2030 plan initiated by the Saudi government to modernize the country, with the project part of a series of major schemes to diversify its economy and raise its profile from an international perspective.
Inspired by arts, wellness, and the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is the world’s first integrated family wellness destination, offering unique and restorative guest experiences for all. Hidden in plain sight on Saudi Arabia’s north-western coast and under construction by developer Red Sea Global, AMAALA will be home to more than 3,000 hotel rooms, residential establishments, recreational facilities, a world-leading marine life institute, and iconic Yacht Club, all set within an area of outstanding natural beauty. AMAALA is due to complete in 2027. Its first phase, Triple Bay, is scheduled to finish in 2024. It includes eight resorts with more than 1,300 hotel rooms and it will be a place where guests will be able to reach new levels of wellbeing with its holistic, comprehensive wellness offer.
Just 15 minutes northwest of Riyadh, Diriyah is the home of the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site, a beautifully preserved mud-brick city that was the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the capital of the First Saudi State, and the original home of House Al Saud. Combining traditional Najdi architectural styles with modern urbanism, Diriyah is a place that emotionally connects with visitors and celebrates the destination’s rich heritage, revealing the origins of modern Saudi Arabia and the spiritual values it is rooted in. This giga-project is being developed by Diriyah Company under the ownership of the Public Investment Fund, which offers a unique opportunity to visit, live, work, shop, dine and celebrate the wonder of Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and culture. The first part of Diriyah, Bujairi Terrace, launched back in December 2022 and features a collection of 21 globally renowned restaurants over a 15,000sq m area.
The Jeddah Central project by developers Jeddah Central Development Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund stands out for its strategic location and distinctive space, situated on an area of 5.7 million square meters in the center of Jeddah. The project intends to establish a world destination, capitalizing on Jeddah’s geographical location on the Red Sea coast and proximity to Makkah and Madinah, popular year-round tourist and pilgrimage destinations. This massive project will be implemented in three major phases, the first of which will be completed by the end of 2027. At this point, the project will begin welcoming Jeddah residents and visitors from within and outside the Kingdom. The project will contain four outstanding landmarks: An opera house, a museum, a sports stadium, and the oceanarium.
Largely complete now as construction began before the initial announcement of the ‘Vision 2030 plan’, the King Abdullah Financial District is an iconic destination known for its world-class commercial offices and retail spaces, with contemporary residences, a unique entertainment offering, and advanced smart city solutions. The KAFD experience welcomes visitors to join its vibrant community as it redefines urban living. KAFD is a one-of-a-kind destination that offers a 24/7 eco-system, combining stunning residential towers, advanced office spaces, exclusive retail and F&B experiences, outstanding hotels, and unique entertainment facilities. A destination that allows you to live, work, and play, supporting a lifestyle that provides convenience and accessibility personalized for you. The scheme is currently under development by King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company.
King Salman Park was launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on March 19, 2019. The King Salman Park Foundation, responsible for the construction and operation of the park, is chaired by HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The Park aims at providing a variety of sports, cultural, artistic, and recreational options to the residents and visitors of Riyadh, therefore, improving the quality of life in the city in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of a vibrant and healthy society and raising Riyadh’s global ranking. King Salman Park is currently being built on more than 16sq km and will become the largest urban park in the world when complete, offering a wide range of options and quality activities for the city’s residents and visitors.
Umm Al Qura for Development & Construction is the owner and developer of the MASAR destination that works with a developmental vision to elevate the urban and investment landscape of Makkah through pioneering the development of the destination and exploring new avenues to help improve the quality of life for Makkah residents, pilgrims, and visitors. Masar is an exquisite urban destination offering unparalleled experiences that are seamlessly designed to the unique needs of each visitor to inspire every journey. Extending over 1.2 million square meters and with its strategic location at the center of Makkah, Masar will be a distinctive landmark, enhancing the quality of life of the people of Makkah and its guests through a diverse range of offerings that vary between hospitality, mobility, retail, culture, entertainment, and more. The targeted date for completion by the developer is currently 2035.
Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City is the world’s first non-profit city: a regional and global center incubating innovative, educational, and creative industries. Located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the city enables the leaders of tomorrow by unlocking the potential of youth in Saudi Arabia. Being designed as a 15-minute city, visitors can reach everywhere in Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City by car, bus, metro, bike, and even on foot. The city is designed to be accessible by all means of transport, with safety and speed as a priority. The development invites an active lifestyle, with 44 per cent of the project open green spaces, parks, and trails – it also features an inspiring sports program that is available to all. The scheme is under construction by Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk).
Saudi Arabia has launched a new project which is set to be the world’s largest modern downtown – New Murabba, scheduled for completion in 2030, the megaproject will house one of the largest built structures in the world, The Mukaab. Inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style, the Mukaab will feature first-of-its-kind facilities and will be an immersive destination that blends digital and virtual technology with the latest holographics. The “Mukaab” will encompass a tower atop a spiral base and a structure featuring two million square meters of floor space that will be a premium hospitality destination with a multitude of retail, cultural, and tourist attractions, along with residential and hotel units, commercial spaces, and recreational facilities. The Mukaab, being developed by New Murabba Development Company will also hold the world’s largest open-air entertainment space measuring 160,000sq m and sitting 400m high at the top of the structure.
Meanwhile NEOM, the most well-known giga-project, is a region in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. NEOM means ‘new future’ and with more than 3,600 staff – from 97 countries – already living and working here onsite, it is already a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new economic model for the country and the world. NEOM, also the developer, is already under construction, and the first destinations will come online in 2024. The project is phased, with OXAGON also getting its first residents in 2024 and TROJENA becoming a place to live, work, and holiday in 2026. The first modules of THE LINE will also be activated in 2026, and by 2030, where some one million people will become residents in NEOM, rising to nine million in 2045. The Line is just one section of this ground-breaking development. THE LINE is set to be a cognitive city stretching across 170km, from the epic mountains of NEOM across inspirational desert valleys to the beautiful Red Sea. A mirrored architectural masterpiece towering 500m above sea level, but a land-saving 200m wide. THE LINE redefines the concept of urban development and what cities of the future will look like.
Qiddiya will be a disruptive destination city recognized on the world stage as the home of the most innovative and immersive experiences. Qiddiya will be a vibrant and liveable destination city based on pillars of Entertainment, Sports, and Culture. Family-friendly theme parks, sports arenas suitable for international competitions, academies for sports and the arts, concert and entertainment venues, racetracks for motorsport enthusiasts as well as outdoor and adventure activities alongside nature and environment experiences are just some of the fun attractions being developed. Qiddiya will also include a variety of real estate options and community services Being developed by the Qiddiya Investment Company, this multi-billion-dollar entertainment destination in Riyadh is set to become the world’s largest entertainment city.
Unlike Saudi’s other giga-projects, ROSHN is delivering new urban communities across the Kingdom. Backed by the PIF, the real estate developer is creating communities through its projects ALAROUS, ALFULWA, MARAFY, and SEDRA. These schemes will feature pedestrian-friendly ‘living streets’, green spaces, and retail and entertainment outlets, as well as hospitals, medical centers, mosques, and sports facilities. Having been established in 2019 by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF), ROSHN specializes in developing integrated urban neighborhoods featuring residential communities with modern standards across the Kingdom. Soon after launching in November 2020, the real estate giant unveiled its first project, which is what is known today as SEDRA. Spread across 20sq km, the scheme comprises more than 30,000 homes and is an integral part of ROSHN’s 10-year mandate to develop communities across the Kingdom.
Saudi Downtown Company, a master and lead developer owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the key enabler of the advancement of the Kingdom’s vision, is working on the Saudi Downtown project, a collection of modern, mixed-use downtowns and destinations with diverse local cultures in 12 Saudi Arabian cities – Arar, Dumat, Al Jandal, Tabuk, Hail, Buraydah, Al Madinah, Al Khobar, Al Ahsa, Taif, Al Baha, Jizan, and Najran. Each of the downtown projects will be a mixed-use scheme that will provide a platform to enhance lifestyles and promote economic growth across the dozen different cities. In total, the projects will cover around 10 million square meters of land area.
Created with the idea of ‘making tomorrow more entertaining’ and owned entirely by the Public Investment Fund, SEVEN is a company providing the backbone for attaining Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of a more prosperous society backed by a restructured economy, they aim to draw on their expertise to create an amazing world of joy, seeking a brighter tomorrow for Saudi entertainment. SEVEN is investing more than SAR 50bn to build 21 entertainment destinations which will provide unique and innovative world-class entertainment experiences and global partnerships from within the sector. SEVEN recently announced the beginning of construction of its entertainment destinations in the Al Hamra district of Riyadh and Tabuk. The upcoming projects are located in 14 cities across the Kingdom: Riyadh, Kharj, Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Dammam, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Madinah, Yanbu, Abha, Jazan, Buraidah, and Tabuk.
Red Sea Global is behind The Red Sea, another giga-project in Saudi Arabia with a focus on eco-tourism. Formerly known as the Red Sea Project, The Red Sea is on track to welcome its first visitors in 2023. It is billed as the world’s most sustainable luxury tourism destination. Directly employing 35,000 people, the project showcases the landscape and rich cultural heritage of the Red Sea Coast. Upon completion in 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, leisure facilities, and an international airport. The destination will include hotels, residential properties, leisure, commercial and entertainment amenities, as well as supporting infrastructure that emphasizes renewable energy and water conservation and re-use.
