SAUDI ARABIA. The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) has released details of plans for an ambitious tourism destination at sea, with the design based on an oil rig platform.
PIF-owned The Oil Park Development Company (OPDC) is developing THE RIG., which will offer a range of hospitality, leisure, entertainment and premium accommodation options.
Inspired by the Kingdom’s oil and gas industry, PIF pledged the project will “redefine the sea sports and leisure experience”.
THE RIG. will include three hotels offering a combined 800 rooms, 11 restaurants, an extreme sports and adventure park, a world-class marina, and helipads. The project will also feature a theatre and multipurpose arena.
The one-of-a-kind hospitality and adventure experience will span a gross floor area of more than 300,000sq m. It is located 40km from the coastline, near Al Juraid Island and Berri Oil Field, and aims to attract over 900,000 annual visitors by 2032.
PIF said the project will support Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious roadmap for economic diversification.
OPDC CEO Raed Bakhrji said: “That [the project] comes with not only the job creation, but also the creation of opportunities for sports, adventure and entertainment venues where people can come and truly spend a unique time and enjoy a very different type of vacation.
“Vision 2030 is at the centre of THE RIG. project, transforming an actual rig and using the oil and gas heritage to go into tourism. It translates the vision into actions.”
Visitors will be able to access THE RIG. via ferries, helicopters, private yachts and seaplanes. ✈
* Read our recent story about PIF’s plans to create a world-class travel retail company to reflect and help drive the Kingdom’s burgeoning tourism and aviation sectors here.
