China State Construction Engineering Corporation will deliver Qiddiya’s Northwest Transport Hub, adding parking and passenger flow infrastructure as the Saudi entertainment city’s visitor numbers grow.
China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has been awarded the contract to build the Northwest Transport Hub at Qiddiya Entertainment City, southwest of Riyadh. The deal adds capacity to a destination already managing the early operational demands of Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia. Qiddiya Investment Company tendered the package earlier this year before selecting the Chinese contractor.
The scope covers a transport hub, a 2,000-space parking structure, passenger flow and ticketing systems, retail and food and beverage outlets, hospitality facilities, landscaping, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing works. Neither the contract value nor a construction timeline has been disclosed. Qatari firm Ammico Contracting Company completed site enabling works ahead of the main award.
For an entertainment city built around record-breaking attractions, transport infrastructure rarely makes headlines. But Qiddiya’s visitor numbers depend on it. Six Flags Qiddiya City opened in December as the first Six Flags park outside North America, followed by the soft opening of Aquarabia, a water theme park delivered by WhiteWater. Both rely on guests reaching the site efficiently, particularly during peak periods.
This is CSCEC’s second contract at Qiddiya. The company was previously appointed, alongside El-Seif Engineering Contracting, to build the e-games arena, valued at approximately two billion Saudi riyals. Construction continues elsewhere across the wider site, including the National Tennis Centre, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, a motorsports circuit and a horse racing venue.
Qiddiya’s expansion reflects Saudi Arabia’s wider Vision 2030 strategy, under which the entertainment city forms one of several gigaprojects designed to diversify the economy beyond oil. Infrastructure contracts of this kind typically follow, rather than precede, headline attraction openings, as operators address congestion and access once visitor footfall is established.
Image:Qiddiya Entertainment City
