The Saudi Entertainment Ventures Company (SEVEN), established by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and mandated to invest, develop and operate entertainment destinations in Saudi Arabia, has announced the expansion of new entertainment complexes to prime locations across the Kingdom. These will delight residents and tourists alike and contribute to positioning Saudi Arabia as a hub for entertainment and leisure.
The entertainment complexes will meet the fast-growing tourism sector and contribute to realising the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030. They are being developed in key strategic geographic locations, providing large resident populations with innovative leisure choices that will appeal to all the family. Each complex will feature several entertainment and leisure choices including cinemas, play areas, rides, F&B, attractions and more.
Abdullah Al Dawood, Chairman of SEVEN, said the company is building the entertainment ecosystem of the Kingdom, having already opened the first cinema in Saudi Arabia in 35 years. “We have a clearly structured development plan to build 20 entertainment destinations, 50 cinemas and two large theme parks in prime locations across the Kingdom.
“We are committed to realising the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to accelerate the creation of world-class entertainment assets in the Kingdom that support economic diversification, create new jobs, and contribute to socio-economic progress. Our complexes will position the Kingdom as an entertainment, culture and tourism hub of the region,” he added.
“At SEVEN, we believe in promoting and creating opportunities for the private sector to thrive in the fast-evolving entertainment landscape of the Kingdom. We are inviting the most ambitious and creative business partners and vendors to join us in our remarkable step forward to shape the entertainment landscape of the Kingdom,” said Al Dawood.
In Jeddah, SEVEN will develop several entertainment complexes adding to the leisure choices for over four million residents and visitors. With entertainment complexes coming up by the azure waters of the Red Sea as well as in areas that are popular among residents, the leisure ecosystem of Jeddah will witness a dramatic transformation.
In line with the vision of the leadership to offer more attractions that add to the quality of life of residents and visitors to the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah, SEVEN will open new entertainment complexes. Another addition is in Taif, the fifth biggest city in Saudi Arabia and the unofficial ‘summer capital’, where the cool climes draw people to its location on the slopes of the Sarawat Mountains.
Known as the spring by the sea for its popularity among tourists as a scuba-diving destination with white sandy shores, Yanbu is another strategic location. With easy connectivity from Riyadh and Dammam, Al-Kharj, will also feature a SEVEN entertainment complex.
Another area which will feature a project by SEVEN will be Buraydah, located in the centre of Saudi Arabia. Abha & Khamis, set in the Asir Mountains and known for equitable all-year weather, will also have new entertainment complexes by SEVEN, adding to their touristic value.
The port city of Jazan, by the Red Sea, and serving as a large agricultural heartland of the Kingdom, features several ambitious infrastructure projects and is another natural choice for SEVEN – along with Tabuk, one of the historic sites, rich in rock art, archeological sites, castles and mosques.
Adding to the entertainment ecosystem of the capital city of Riyadh, is the development of the Entertainment Complex at Al Hamra that will serve the densely populated neighbourhoods in the north-east of Riyadh. At the intersection of King Abdullah Road and East Ring Road, the project will serve over 2.5 million people within a radius of a 30-minute drive. Another exciting upcoming addition to Riyadh is the Entertainment Complex at Al Nahda, with the Nahda Park Metro Station just a few metres away. Announced last year, work on these projects is progressing as per schedule.
Further adding to the communities of Dammam and Al Khobar, which serve as vital hubs for several key industries and global businesses, SEVEN is bringing waterfront attractions that will create unforgettable moments of joyful entertainment for everyone. Announced last year, these projects will also offer a range of entertainment choices for residents and visitors.
SEVEN made the announcement at the second Future Projects Forum 2020, organised by the Saudi Contractors Authority to showcase the future projects in the Kingdom. All the entertainment complexes by SEVEN will be easily accessible for the community with sites selected after detailed feasibility studies. Their prime locations will also help energise surrounding regions. The final names, themes, components and features of the various entertainment complexes will be revealed in due course.
SEVEN believes that entertainment has the power to have wide-ranging influences on communities and relationships, as well as drive local business growth, forge international partnerships and create new family-focused spaces in keeping with a fast-changing nation. Its projects further reinforce the role of SEVEN as the National Champion in the entertainment sector of the Kingdom, driving pioneering initiatives that will transform the leisure landscape and enhance the quality of lifestyle of the Kingdom’ residents and visitors.
