In the fantasy world of “Dragon Ball”, a popular Japanese manga and anime series, the main character embarks on a journey to collect seven magic balls to summon a wish-granting dragon.
This desire appears to have manifested itself in the creation of a park outside Riyadh for Qiddiya Investment Company, a real estate development company backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
The Gulf state's latest attempt to boost tourism will include 30 rides featuring Goku, Frieza and other characters, according to the company's website. The park will span more than 5.3 million square feet within Qiddiya, a plot of desert land about 40 minutes from the capital that has been earmarked for development as an entertainment district, with plans for a stadium, hotels, a water park and six theme parks. Flags Park and golf courses.
Saudi Arabia is pumping billions of dollars into development projects that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman believes are essential to help the country reduce its dependence on oil. The country aims to attract 150 million tourists annually by 2030, and the Crown Prince has positioned video games and entertainment as a pillar of the country's future growth.
Japan-based Toei Animation and a unit of MBS Corporation's MBS Corporation have teamed up to produce the animated films. The country's sovereign wealth fund is now Nintendo's largest outside shareholder.
One of the park's signature rides will be a 230-foot roller coaster named after Shenron, the manga's magical dragon.
The announcement of the theme park comes a few days after the death of Akira Toriyama, the creator of “Dragon Ball.” The series has sold more than 260 million copies worldwide and has inspired numerous Hollywood animated series, video games, and films.
Although the Saudi desert seems like an unlikely location for a Dragon Ball theme park, it's sure to be hot: daytime temperatures in a Riyadh summer can easily soar over 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
