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Seven has announced the latest entertainment mega destination to come to Saudi Arabia following the breaking ground of its SAR1.3bn development in the city of Al-Madinah
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 01 Aug 2023
Seven Al-Madinah is one of 21 entertainment destinations coming to Saudi Arabia Credit: Seven
Development company Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven) has announced its latest mega project in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia - a SAR1.3bn (US$350m, €320m, £270m) entertainment destination in the city of Al-Madinah.
Located by the King Fahad Central Park, the 100,000sq m (1.07 million sq ft) development will be woven into its surroundings, blending the park’s trails with a series of open paths and gardens within the destination.
Included will be a 4,000sq m (43,100sq ft) family entertainment centre featuring world class rides and attractions, as well as an e-karting track built over two levels with 330m (1,080ft) of track.
A number of IPs are also already confirmed to be appearing at the destination, with a Discovery adventure centre offering trekking experiences, treehouse trails, and other jungle-themed challenges, while a Play-Doh entertainment centre will feature three different immersive themed zones.
Additional offerings include a cinema, bowling alley and a wellness centre, as well as a wide range of international and local retail and food and beverage outlets.
Commenting on the project, Seven’s chairman, Abdullah AlDawood, said: “Our entertainment destination in Al-Madinah will transform the entertainment landscape of the region and bring new, unique, and exciting experiences to the people of Al-Madinah supporting Seven’s aims to enrich the quality of life for millions of Saudis.”
Construction on the project is underway following the groundbreaking, with BUJV - a joint venture by Al Bawani Co and UrbaCon Trading & Contracting - appointed to carry out the works.
A subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Seven was established to serve as the investment and development arm for the entertainment sector – a key part of the kingdom’s economic roadmap.
Seven has announced plans to develop a number of major projects, including a more than SAR1bn (US$266.4m, €244.7m, £215.7m) state-of-the-art entertainment destination in the city of Tabuk. Overall, Seven is investing SAR50bn (US$13.3bn, €12.84bn, £11.07bn) across 21 integrated entertainment destinations in the country with more than 150 innovative attractions to open across 14 different Saudi cities.
Seven is also bringing a number of major IPs to Saudi Arabia, with announcements for Transformers, Play-Doh and Warner Bros Discovery-themed attractions.
These grand investments by the PIF and the kingdom seem to be paying off. Under its 2030 Vision plan, Saudi has set a target to hit 100 million visitors annually by 2030. In 2022 the country welcomed 77 million domestic travellers and 16.5 million international travellers – 93.5 million in total. As a result, the country’s tourism authority is planning to extend that figure beyond its original target.
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