The world’s first Dragon Ball theme park will be built in Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia, according to an official announcement on Friday.
The major tourist attraction will feature more than 30 Dragon Ball-themed rides spread across a massive 500,000sq m in Qiddiya.
The giant attraction will be based on the popular Japanese comic, movie and gaming universe.
Dragon Ball theme park in Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia
The beloved entertainment franchise tells the story of martial artist Goku and debuted in Japan in 1984.
40 years later it is a global phenomenon with movies, games and TV shows distributed around the world.
The Qiddiya theme park will be a world first and part of a wider strategy to establish Saudi Arabia as a tourism and entertainment hotspot.
Qiddiya revealed there will be seven distinct zones at the theme park and it will include five ground-breaking attractions, including a 70m-high dragon rollercoaster.
The park will also have Dragon Ball-themed hotels and restaurants.
Qiddiya has announced a variety of high-profile entertainment projects in Saudi Arabia.
Other major attractions in the pipeline include, a high-concept motorsports track, a clifftop concert stadium, a world-first gaming district, a 251kmph rollercoaster and the Middle East’s largest waterpark.
The announcement comes after Qiddiya entered into a long-term strategic partnership with Toei Animation, Japan‘s leading animation company and original animators of Dragon Ball.
The partnership aims to preserve and elevate the franchise, with a shared vision to fulfil visitor’s dreams of bringing Dragon Ball to the real world and will pave the way for Qiddiya and Toei Animation to broaden their existing collaboration.
Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company Abdullah Aldawood said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Toei Animation, bringing their rich legacy of pioneering contributions to the anime industry to Qiddiya City.
“Dragon Ball theme park is a celebration of the diverse and vibrant world of anime, offering a unique blend of thrills, family-friendly attractions, and immersive entertainment for everyone.
“This announcement only marks the beginning of many promising projects. The theme park embraces the City’s power of play philosophy, and solidifies our commitment to provide world-class entertainment, as a global leader in ground-breaking and diverse attractions.”
Katsuhiro Takagi, president of Toei Animation, added: “Our collaboration with Qiddiya marks a key milestone, offering fans a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience the epic adventures of Dragon Ball first-hand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“The reveal of the world’s only Dragon Ball theme park is a testament to the timeless legacy of the Dragon Ball franchise.”
Dragon Ball theme park will further cement Qiddiya City’s position as the worldwide capital of play. The play concept leverages decades of research showing that play is vital for human cognitive development, emotional expression, social skills, creativity, and physical health.
Studies have demonstrated the positive effects of recreational activities on society, their ability to bridge differences between cultures, and enhance levels of empathy and social cohesion.
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