Saudi project to be built on an oil rig platform in the Arabian Gulf

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which is one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, has announced plans for a tourism project known as “THE RIG”, which will take the form of a 150,000 square meter resort built on an oil rig platform in the Arabian Gulf.

The project will feature three hotels, 800 rooms, 11 restaurants, a roller coaster, a water slide, a ferris wheel, a go-cart arena and multiple helipads. Tourists can take part in extreme sports including scuba diving and bungee jumping at the location.

The cost of the project has not yet been put forward. The PIF has estimated assets of around $500 billion, and aims to have $1.07 trillion in assets under management by 2025, and $2 trillion by 2030.

The PIF said that the project would be the world’s first tourism destination on an offshore platform, although since 2010, the Seaventures Dive Resort has operated a hotel on a decommissioned oil rig in the Celebes Sea, Malaysia.
THE RIG is part of the PIF’s strategy 2021-2025 to update Saudi Arabia’s tourism and entertainment sectors. Under the Vision 2030 programme, the kingdom looks forward toexpand its economy and reduce its dependence on oil revenue.

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