Located 40km west of Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, Qiddiya is set to become the future capital of Entertainment, Sports and the Arts. The Tuwaiq Mountains form a dramatic backdrop for a vast digital display, courtesy of the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC).
The display was showcased in a three-minute video, in which the story of Tuwaiq Mountains is told, from the ice age right through to present day, using 84 projectors. The project is scheduled to open in 2023, in line with Saudi’s Vision 2030 plan.
Qiddiya CEO Michael Reininger made the success of the project clear, “We received a great reaction when we first used projection to illustrate the potential of Qiddiya at our groundbreaking ceremony.”
“This inspired us to create an enhanced and sophisticated light show that uses the latest audio-visual technology that, once again, highlights how Qiddiya is set to become the Kingdom’s capital of entertainment, sports and the arts. The projection display will continue to illuminate the skies above Qiddiya and we hope to work with other Saudi entities to explore how best to use this valuable tool in the future for mutually beneficial purposes.”
The best use of the display was during the closing ceremony for the 2020 Dakar Rally, where officials and guests alike got to see how it worked under real event conditions. It was also used in December of last year to reveal the G20 logo, alongside the Saudi flag and profiles of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
Over the last 4 months, a team of over 80 technicians have been working around the clock to install the 32,000 square metre display. By creating this display the Saudi government are actively trying to achieve their Vision 2030 goal, in which their aim is to switch from an oil-based economy to one that focuses more on arts, entertainment and tourism.
The company tasked with driving the development of Qiddiya are Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC). Phase 1 of the project is set to be completed in 2023, and soon visitors will be able to enjoy activities across five cornerstones: Sports and Wellness, Nature and Environment, Parks and Attractions, Motion and Mobility, and Arts and Culture. There will also be a variety of real estate options and community services.
