In the fictional world of “Dragon Ball,” the Japanese manga and anime franchise, the main character embarks on an adventure to collect seven magic balls to summon a wish-granting dragon.
This preference has manifested itself in the creation of a theme park on the outskirts of Riyadh for Qiddiya Investment Co. , a real estate developer subsidized by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The Persian Gulf country’s latest attempt to bring tourism to life will include 30 attractions featuring Goku, Frieza and other characters, according to the company’s website. The park will encompass more than 5. 3 million square feet in the city of Qiddiya, a desert area about 40 minutes from the capital that has been designed to evolve as an entertainment district, with plans for a stadium, hotels, a water park, a Six Flag Park and golf courses.
Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars in progress projects that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees as key to helping the country reduce its dependence on oil. The country has a goal of receiving 150 million tourists a year until 2030, and the crown prince has identified video games and entertainment as pillars of the country’s long-term growth.
Japan’s Toei Animation Co. et, a unit of MBS’s MiSK Foundation, has partnered to produce animated films. The country’s sovereign wealth fund is now Nintendo Co. ‘s largest outside shareholder.
One of the park’s iconic attractions will be a 230-foot-tall roller coaster named after Shenron, the magical dragon from the manga.
The theme park’s announcement comes just days after the death of Akira Toriyama, the author of “Dragon Ball. “The franchise has sold more than 260 million copies internationally and has spawned several animated series, video games, and films produced in Hollywood.
Although the Saudi desert happens to be an unlikely location for a Dragon Ball theme park, it’s hot: Temperatures during summer daylight hours in Riyadh can gently soar to over 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
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