— Qiddiya Investment Co. (QIC) awarded a contract for SR2.8 billion to build the Kingdom’s first water theme park and the largest of its kind in the region. The water park will cover 252,000 square meters and will include 22 games and attractions, including nine games that will be the first of their kind in the world. Visitors will also enjoy nine innovatively designed areas: the main gate, camel rock, lizard cave, valley of waves, cave, valley of snakes, Arabian summit, grazing lands, and surfing lake. The design of these areas was inspired by the local animals that lived and settled in the Qiddiya area. The park will allow visitors to enjoy an exceptional experience of exciting and unforgettable adventures. The park will also contain the latest facilities for water sports, and 17 food and shopping stores. The contract to build the park was awarded to a joint venture between Alec Engineering and Contracting and Al-Seef Engineering Contracting Co. The contract was signed by Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Daoud, Board Member and Managing Director of QIC, Kees Taylor, CEO of ALEC Engineering and Contracting, and Ahmed Al-Bassam, CEO of Al-Saif Engineering Contracting Company in a special ceremony held at the Experience and Visitors Center in Qiddiya. The foundation stone was laid, marking the start of construction. Once completed, the park will be one of the most prominent leisure destinations in Qiddiya. — SG