Saudi Arabia: $1.4bn contract awarded for Qiddiya
Performing Arts Centre
Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has awarded
a construction contract worth approximately $1.4bn to local firm Nesma &
Partners for the development of the Qiddiya City Performing Arts Centre, one of
the flagship cultural landmarks within the Kingdom’s ambitious entertainment
megaproject, Qiddiya City.
The centre will feature three theatres with a combined
capacity exceeding 3,000 seats, alongside a cantilevered amphitheatre offering
panoramic views across Qiddiya City’s lower plateau. A 500-seat suspended
theatre will form the architectural centrepiece, designed to create a striking
silhouette on the city’s skyline.
Located on the edge of the Tuwaiq Mountains, the complex is
expected to host more than 200 indoor and outdoor performances annually,
spanning theatre, music, digital art, cultural showcases and international
productions.
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According to MEED, tenders for the project were issued in September
2023, with bids submitted in May 2024. The design was led by US-based Tom
Wiscombe Architecture, with Dubai’s Brewer Smith Brewer Gulf serving as design
consultant.
As Qiddiya City’s first cultural asset, the Performing Arts
Centre aims to nurture local creative talent and attract global audiences,
positioning the city as a premier destination for the performing arts in the
Middle East. The project supports Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify
the nation’s economy and expand its tourism and entertainment sectors.
Qiddiya City, located southwest of Riyadh, will also feature
the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, a motorsports track, Six Flags Qiddiya,
Aquarabia water park, and a major e-sports arena. Beyond entertainment, a media
district is planned to host film, television and digital production facilities,
including studios, post-production suites, and training centres — part of Saudi
Arabia’s broader drive to grow its creative economy.
Saudi Arabia’s leisure tourism has surged in recent years: domestic
leisure trips have doubled from 16.7 million in 2018 to 33.8 million in 2023,
while international leisure arrivals have grown by 600%, according to GlobalData.
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Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre: Saudi Arabia’s new cultural beacon
Together with other megaprojects such as Neom, The Red Sea
Project, Amaala, and Diriyah Gate, Qiddiya is helping redefine the Kingdom’s
approach to culture, entertainment, and tourism — creating jobs, attracting
investment, and boosting non-oil revenues.
When completed, the Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre is
expected to stand as a cultural beacon — an architectural and artistic landmark
symbolizing Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a regional hub for creativity
and performance.
Source: Global Construction Review
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