As part of the kingdom’s diversification efforts, Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has opened a 1.3 billion Saudi riyal ($346.6 million) entertainment destination in the Aseer region.
The development, called Seven Abha, is the company’s fifth project of this kind in the kingdom. It spans 64,000 square meters and has a built-up area of over 79,000 square meters, Seven announced on Sunday.
It is situated halfway between Abha and Khamis Mushait. Gensler, a renowned international architecture firm, designed it, and Modern Building Leaders has been tasked with completing the construction.
According to Seven, the project is expected to generate “hundreds” of direct and indirect jobs in Aseer by 2030, bring in more than five million visitors, and add more than four billion riyals to the country’s GDP.
As per Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the chairman of the Aseer Development Authority, the Aseer region is “witnessing an unprecedented renaissance across different sectors and verticals”.
“One of the key projects in Aseer that will support our ambition to become a global destination all year round is Seven’s entertainment destination in Abha.”
As part of its Vision 2030 diversification agenda, Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter in the world, is changing its economy in an effort to lessen its reliance on oil, support homegrown industries, and create jobs.
A major component of its diversification strategy is tourism, and in an effort to spur industry growth and draw in more capital, the kingdom passed a new tourism law last year.
By 2030, it aims to increase the tourism sector’s economic contribution from 3% to 5% of GDP.
The kingdom is working on several tourism-related projects, such as Qiddiya, a massive entertainment and sports complex in Riyadh, and Neom, a $500 billion futuristic city. On the west coast of Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea Development Company is also constructing a massive tourist complex.
To further aid in the expansion of the kingdom’s tourism industry, the PIF also founded the Saudi Tourism Investment Company, or Asfar, in July.
According to the PIF at the time, the company will make investments in brand-new tourism initiatives and create locations in Saudi Arabian cities that offer lodging, attractions, shopping, and food and drink options.
As part of its mandate to develop the sector, Seven is investing over 50 billion riyals to build 21 entertainment destinations throughout the kingdom.
Fourteen cities—Riyadh, Kharj, Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Dammam, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Madinah, Yanbu, Abha, Jizan, Buraidah, and Tabuk—are home to the upcoming projects.
Eight attractions total will be available at Seven Abha, including a family-friendly amusement park with rides, arcade games, and virtual reality sections.
It will also feature a 12-hole indoor golf adventure area, a Play-Doh themed entertainment center, and a Discovery Adventures jungle-themed attraction.
Live events will take place at a multipurpose venue. Other features of the project include a 10-lane futuristic bowling concept, indoor e-karting on multilevel tracks, an AMC 10-screen theater, retail stores, and food and beverage options.
For the attractions, Seven has agreements with Cundall, Theme 3, Top Notch, Holofice, Thinkwell, and Sea Quest.