Riyadh - EcoPulse24

Universal Studios, a subsidiary of American media giant Comcast, plans to build a new theme park in Saudi Arabia, positioning the company in direct competition with Disney, which announced a similar project in Abu Dhabi last May.

Project Location and Funding Model

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the proposed project will be located in Qiddiya City, a massive entertainment project situated 40 minutes southwest of Riyadh in the heart of the Tuwaiq Mountains. The project is still in the initial planning stages, with Comcast currently engaged in conceptual design work.

The project is expected to be fully funded by a government-supported entity in Saudi Arabia under a licensing deal with Universal, similar to funding models used for other entertainment projects in the region. This means the Saudi government will cover the capital costs while Universal provides intellectual property and operational expertise.

Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, visited Saudi Arabia last month for an investment conference and toured the Qiddiya project, indicating the company's serious interest.

Qiddiya Project: First Global Destination Built on the "Power of Play"

Qiddiya City is a massive entertainment, sports, and cultural project being developed by the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), a subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Qiddiya is described as the "first global destination built entirely on the Power of Play," aiming to welcome 17 million visitors annually by 2030.

The project currently includes several key attractions under development or construction:

Six Flags Qiddiya City - Opening December 31, 2025

The largest current achievement for Qiddiya is the opening of Six Flags Qiddiya City at the end of December, marking the first Six Flags park outside North America. The park features 28 rides spread across six themed areas, including three record-breaking attractions:

• Falcon's Flight: The fastest, tallest, and highest roller coaster in the world
• Iron Rattler: The highest tilting roller coaster in the world
• Spitfire: The highest suspended roller coaster in the world

Ticket prices start at 325 SAR for adults and 275 SAR for children, with free entry for those under four. The park will operate daily starting at 4 PM.

Other Projects Under Development:

• Aquarabia: A massive water park
• Dragon Ball Z Theme Park: A park dedicated to the popular anime series
• Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium: A stadium to host the 2034 World Cup matches
• Formula 1 Circuit: Scheduled to open in 2027
• Qiddiya High Speed Railway: A high-speed train to connect Qiddiya to Riyadh

Successful Model: Licensing Deals in the Region

The potential Universal project follows the same licensing model that has proven successful in several regional projects:

Six Flags Qiddiya:

The Qiddiya Investment Company fully funds the project, while Six Flags provides intellectual property and operational expertise in exchange for licensing fees. This model minimizes financial risks for the American company while ensuring Saudi Arabia a well-known global brand.

Disneyland Abu Dhabi:

The Walt Disney Company announced on May 7, 2025, a Disney park project on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, marking the seventh Disney park globally and the first in the Middle East.

The Miral Group fully funds and manages the project, while Disney's Imagineering team leads the creative design and operational oversight. Disney does not invest any capital in the project, only receiving licensing revenues.

Yas Island already hosts:

• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
• Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi
• SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
• Yas Waterworld
• Yas Marina Circuit (Formula 1)

Success Factors in the Region

1. Strong Government Support:

All successful projects in the region enjoy direct support from sovereign funds and national strategies:

• Qiddiya is part of Saudi Vision 2030
• Yas Island is part of Abu Dhabi Vision 2030
• Government funding ensures project completion

2. Advanced Infrastructure:

• Modern international airports (Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah)
• Excellent road networks
• Planned high-speed trains (Qiddiya High Speed Railway)
• Luxury global hotels

3. Massive Regional Market:

• 500 million people in the region have the financial capacity to visit
• 1.4 billion in India (shorter flight than to China or Hong Kong)
• The Gulf market alone targets $380 billion in tourism by 2030

4. Low-Risk Licensing Model:

• Global companies (Universal, Disney, Six Flags) do not invest capital
• Local governments cover construction costs
• Both parties benefit: Global brand + guaranteed funding

5. Timely Expansion:

• Strong entertainment growth in the region
• Economic diversification away from oil
• Positive competition among Gulf states drives projects forward

6. Climate Adaptation:

• Most attractions are air-conditioned indoors
• Evening and nighttime operating hours (Six Flags opens at 4 PM)
• Advanced cooling technologies

Universal's Global Expansion

The Saudi project aligns with an aggressive expansion strategy by Universal Destinations & Experiences:

• Epic Universe - Orlando, Florida (opened in May 2025)
• Universal UK - Bedford, England (final approval received December 2025)
• Universal Beijing Resort - China (opened 2021)

Universal currently operates five parks:

1. Universal Studios Florida
2. Universal Studios Hollywood
3. Universal Studios Japan (Osaka)
4. Universal Studios Singapore
5. Universal Beijing Resort

The potential Saudi park will be Universal's seventh globally, while the Disney park in Abu Dhabi will also be the seventh for Disney.

Expected Timeline

No official opening date has been announced, but large-scale projects typically take:

• 1-2 years for design and planning
• 4-6 years for construction
• Expected opening: Early to mid-2030s (2032-2035)

This aligns with the expected timeline for Disneyland Abu Dhabi, suggesting both parks may open around the same time, creating unprecedented entertainment competition in the Gulf region.

Vision 2030 and Economic Diversification

The project aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to:

• Diversify the economy away from oil
• Receive 100 million tourists annually by 2030
• Develop the entertainment and cultural sector
• Create job opportunities for citizens

Saudi Arabia welcomed 27.4 million visitors in 2023 and aims to double this figure in the coming years through massive projects like NEOM, The Red Sea Project, AlUla, and Qiddiya.