A rendering of The Rig.
Image courtesy of: CNN Travel
Last year, Saudi Arabia announced plans to convert an oil rig in the Arabian Gulf into a 150,000 square meter theme park and resort. Named, “The Rig,” this new extreme park will be financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The project will be the world’s first tourist destination built on an offshore oil platform. When complete, “The Rig” will feature three hotels, eleven top-of-the-line restaurants, roller coasters, extreme sports such as zip-lining, bungee-jumping, and skydiving. To top it all off, the platform will be accessible via a number of transportation methods including ferry ships, yachts, cruise lines, and helicopters.
Roller coaster rides will provide stunning views of the Persian Gulf.
Image courtesy of: Luxury Launches
The project will be enormous… covering over 37 acres scattered across a number of platforms. Some wonder whether or not this is an attempt to compete with Dubai’s numerous breathtaking attractions. However, a floating extreme park is something that Dubai has not yet thought of.
The country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will pay for this outrageous and unique destination; estimates for project are as extreme as the proposed idea itself. At close to half a billion dollars, much is hanging on “The Rig” becoming a major contributing factor to Saudi Arabia’s 2030 strategy to become competitive among the region’s tourist many destinations.
Inspiration for the design came from offshore oil platforms.
Image courtesy of: CNN Travel
Interestingly and coincidently, this announcement was presented as the country debuted its initiative to be “net-zero by-2060,” COP26’s climate plan to the United Nations. In addition, the country claimed that it will invest $187 billion for “climate solutions and actions” by 2030. However this is not immediate, Saudi Arabia will not decrease oil production or reduce fossil fuel exports in the immediate future.
In regards to the environmental role behind The Rig, PIF has said, ‘THE RIG seeks environmental protection in the project’s area, in line with global best practices and insupportable of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to preserve the environment.”
Construction on The Rig is set to start during the second part of this year.
Image courtesy of: CNN Travel
The resort will have 800 rooms which will be “inspired” by the country’s oil platforms. It is still unclear whether or not the resort will be built from scratch or adapted on one of the many oil platforms off the Arabian Gulf’s east coast. The exact location will enable visitors from Bahrain and Qatar easier access… the two countries will be just an hour away from Dammam’s east coast.
PIF recently introduced a video highlighting the project.
With this latest tourism and entertainment project, the kingdom’s government is demonstrating their continued commitment to reduce Saudi Arabia’s reliance on oil. In addition to this ambitious endeavor, PIF also announced a plan for additional resorts in the Red Sea off the county’s west coast. Just another reason to travel to the Middle East!