US entertainment giant Universal Studios to build multibillion dollar theme park in Saudi Arabia

Universal Studios, a US entertainment giant, is exploring to build a multibillion dollar park at Qiddiya/Representative Image

Universal Studios is exploring to build a multibillion dollar theme park in Saudi Arabia, signalling a major step in the Kingdom’s entertainment sector. Still in its early concept stage, the park could take shape within Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia’s sprawling new hub for leisure and tourism.

Early planning

According to The Wall Street Journal, Universal Studios parent company, Comcast, is exploring the possibility of establishing a theme park in Saudi Arabia. The plans are currently at the conceptual stage, with no approvals granted for construction. The proposed site is likely to be Qiddiya, the massive entertainment, sports, and tourism destination located southwest of Riyadh.Comcast Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts recently visited Saudi Arabia to attend an investment conference and toured the Qiddiya site, which is widely seen as the potential location for the park. Roberts confirmed that the project is in early planning stages and emphasised that it is not yet finalised. At this stage, it is unclear which Universal franchises, rides, or attractions would be included.

The potential Universal Studios park comes amid a broader push to develop large scale theme parks in the Gulf region. Earlier this year, Walt Disney Company announced a partnership with Abu Dhabi developer Miral to build a theme park in the UAE capital. Saudi Arabia itself is advancing several entertainment projects, including Six Flags Qiddiya City, the Kingdom’s first theme park, scheduled to open in Riyadh on 31 December 2025. These initiatives are part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s national strategy to diversify its economy away from oil and boost leisure, tourism, and cultural infrastructure.

Qiddiya spans 334 square kilometres, making it about two and a half times the size of Disney World in Florida. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) aims for the project to eventually attract 48 million visitors annually and contribute SAR17 billion ($4.5 billion) to the country’s GDP.Tourism in Saudi Arabia has already grown rapidly. In 2024, the Kingdom recorded over 100 million visitors, including roughly 30 million international tourists. Preliminary figures for 2025 indicate continued growth, with around 60.9 million visitors in the first half of the year alone.The potential Universal Studios park reflects rising interest from global entertainment brands in Saudi Arabia. It would not only enhance the Kingdom’s leisure offerings but also support the goal of reaching 150 million visitors by 2030.

While still in the conceptual phase, the Universal Studios project could become a landmark attraction within Qiddiya, complementing other major developments in the region. If realised, it would highlight Saudi Arabia’s strategy of using cultural and entertainment investments to drive economic growth and position the Kingdom as a global destination for tourism and leisure. Go to Source