QIC awards $750mn contract for 252,000sqm water park
Qiddiya is billed as the future capital of entertainment, sports and culture in the region
A $750mn contract has been awarded by the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) for the construction of Saudi Arabia’s first water theme park. The contract was awarded to a joint venture of ALEC Saudi Arabia Engineering & Contracting and El Seif Engineering Contracting.
The Qiddiya Water Theme Park will be one of the key entertainment attractions at Qiddiya and will cover an area of 252,000sqm. It will be home to 22 rides and attractions including nine that will be world firsts, said a statement from QIC.
Once complete, visitors will be able to enjoy nine zones – the Entry Gate, Camel Rock, Dub Grotto, Wave Wadi, the Den, Viper Canyon, Arabian Peak, the Herding Grounds and Surf Lagoon – inspired by the native animals that inhabit the area around Qiddiya, the statement added.
The agreement was signed between Qiddiya’s managing director Abdullah bin Nasser Aldawood, ALEC’s CEO Kez Taylor and El Seif’s CEO Ahmed Al Bassam at a ceremony held at the Qiddiya Experience Center, followed by a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction.
“The Qiddiya Water Theme Park will be a year-round immersive family entertainment destination, the first of its kind and offering experiences that have never before been offered in Saudi. We are pleased to be working with industry leaders like ALEC and El Seif, who will be using the latest in guest experience technologies to create what is certain to be one of the world’s greatest water theme parks. The park will offer our guests a chance to experience that in a welcoming and fun environment for everyone,” said Aldawood.
The park will also feature competition water sports facilities and 17 F&B and retail outlets. It’s design will incorporate advanced environmental systems to minimise the use of water through recycling and smart usage in line with QIC’s sustainability practices. This will maximise the fun for visitors whilst significantly reducing the amount of water needed to operate the park, the statement explained.
Some rides have been designed to use 75% less water compared to the more conventional rides found in other water parks. In addition, rainwater that falls on the site will be captured, treated and reused for irrigating the destination, QIC concluded.
