Utamo & Qiddiya: What we know about the two new immersive entertainment destinations

The Kingdom has established itself as being at the fore of iconic, inspirational and futuristic thinking.

Recently, Saudi has announced several new dedicated hospitality areas and urban spaces, such as Leyja, Trojena and the much anticipated openings of the new hotels in the Red Sea region, and the most recent projects announced are two new destinations designed to swivel on entertainment.

Planned for both Riyadh and the Red Sea region, these two mega-destinations will each pivot on entertainment, and performances in both theatre and concert form.

Let's take a look at what is planned for Utamo and Qiddiya:

Utamo

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Location: NEOM, Red Sea Region

The newly announced entertainment destination, aims to be a futuristic utopia of nature and leisure nestled within the mountainous, rocky coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba in NEOM.

Utamo will be a dynamic, immersive experience where nature converges with state-of-the-art technology, crafting a groundbreaking theatre concept.

Visitors will stroll through a stunning garden promenade, ultimately arriving at a grand hall set to showcase unparalleled, multi-sensory performances by the globe's most esteemed artists. Central to the new arts and culture destination will be the expansive garden promenade, it will be adorned with over 50 varieties of shrubs, herbs, and flowers, leading them towards the grand hall.

The grandeur of the 64-meter-high entrance serves as a magnificent prelude, encapsulating the essence of artistry and design that anticipates the captivating experiences within.

This visionary destination aims to redefine entertainment, offering unforgettable experiences that merge artistic brilliance with technological innovation, making this the entertainment destination of choice in the region.

@discoverneom

Qiddiya (Qiddiya City)

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Location: Tuwaiq

Construction began in 2019, and upon completion, Qiddiya City is expected to provide accommodation for more than 600,000 residents and visitors. An expansive vision that is not limited to solely entertainment and will feature 25 distinct district masterplans that intertwine entertainment, sports, culture, residential areas, mixed-use spaces, and natural landscapes.

But, let's focus on the entertainment details.

Announced in 2017, the new destination will feature two world-class golf courses, 27 different entertainment attractions, 275 high-octane rides and rollercoasters alongside to be found across 12 branded theme parks. These theme parks have been confirmed to included the Six Flags Qiddiya and the Qiddiya Water Park, both which will be a first in the Kingdom. Each project is more than half way to completion, and sit at an estimated 60% completion rate.

Six Flags Qiddiya will be home to the park’s exclusive signature ride, Falcon’s Flight - which will be the tallest, longest and fastest rollercoaster on the planet. For those looking to add a new course to their belt, the sprawling Qiddiya golf course will cover an area of 1.6 million m2.

Just 40km from Riyadh's Downtown area, this new entertainment destination in the Tuwaiq mountains will be connected to both Riyadh City and the King Khalid International Airport by a well-connected series of motorways and roads, and public transportation options.

@qiddiya