Talent and technology driving growth of Saudi Arabian theme parks

Driven by its Vision 2030 initiative to diversify its economy and boost tourism, Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a hub for theme park development.

Theme parks planned for giga-projects at Qiddiya near the capital of Riyadh and NEOM on the Red Sea along with Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven) projects across the Kingdom are currently moving forward, with the entertainment city within Qiddiya set to include the region’s first Six Flags theme park and Aquarabia Waterpark, home to record-breaking rides and innovative experiences.

Financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) is driving the development of what is intended to be the Kingdom's capital of entertainment, sports and the arts.

Alec Fitout, a regional fit-out company actively involved in many of these projects, describes the developments as a pivotal moment for the Kingdom, noting “we’re witnessing an unprecedented level of scale and diversity.”

Alexis Bayle, Alec Fitout’s Country Manager believes that “globally recognised brands like Six Flags and Dragon Ball will draw huge numbers of dedicated fans and thrill-seekers, while homegrown experiences like Aquarabia will offer a global audience a taste of Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage.”

Noting the impact this is having on the Kingdom’s construction talent pool, Bayle explained “Saudi Arabia is currently one of the world’s most active markets for theme park development, and so significant investments are being made to bring the best global talent to the country.

“This is a landmark moment for the industry, providing young Saudi professionals with an unmissable opportunity to build their networks and gain exposure to international best practices.”

One of a number of international organisations actively working to increase the participation of Saudi nationals in this booming sector, Alec Fitout recently launched its AHLAN program, offering focused business and technical training, workshops and mentorship during a month-long onboarding process - rapidly enhancing the professional skills of Saudi nationals who join the company.

The momentum behind the theming industry is also advancing collaborative processes in Saudi Arabia’s construction market.

As Roberto Callerame, Art Production Manager at Alec Fitout, notes “few industries match the complexities of meeting the needs of so many stakeholders - from the aesthetic vision of designers to the service requirements of maintenance teams, and of course, the comfort and experience of visitors.”

With Alec Fitout having been a long-standing advocate of digitalisation, Callerame sees that advanced technologies are crucial to balancing these demands, adding “digital tools are essential. We use them to ensure precise documentation and change management, simulate complex structures, and guarantee the structural integrity and safety of projects we develop.”

Alaa AlSaidi, Senior Project Manager at Alec Fitout, also advised that new construction solutions are also being developed, going on to state “structures like rollercoaster tracks and man-made mountains are fundamentally different from typical buildings. We are proud to see local companies rise to the challenge, and have been working with them to create entirely new product categories to meet the unique specifications of these projects.”

With theming being a highly lucrative industry, dominated by concentrated pools of providers, the expertise and production capabilities now being developed in Saudi Arabia are set position the Kingdom as a significant player in this field.

AlSaidi concluded “the facilities we’ve built locally, along with the Saudi professionals we’ve onboarded and trained, will not only help make Saudi Arabia’s theme parks a reality.

“These investments will stand the test of time, feeding back into the local economy as more theme park projects around the world look to Saudi Arabia for expertise and support.”

Images: Concept for Six Flags Qiddiya (top), Alec Fitout’s Alexis Bayle (middle) and the concept for Qiddiya's waterpark (below).