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Qiddiya Announces Pioneering Sports, Entertainment and Culture Stadium in Qiddiya City

Qiddiya Sign (file photo/Asharq Al-Awsat)
Qiddiya Sign (file photo/Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Qiddiya Announces Pioneering Sports, Entertainment and Culture Stadium in Qiddiya City

Qiddiya Sign (file photo/Asharq Al-Awsat)
Qiddiya Sign (file photo/Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Board of Directors of the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) announced the launch of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, an iconic multi-use venue set to further enhance Qiddiya’s philosophy of the Power of Play. Upon opening, it is anticipated to host some of Saudi Arabia’s biggest sports, entertainment, and cultural events, SPA reported.
Located in Qiddiya City atop the breathtaking 200m-high Tuwaiq cliff and just 40 minutes from Riyadh, this futuristic venue is anticipated to become a must-visit destination. It aims to draw visitors from across the globe and revolutionize the traditional stadium experience with its immersive design and unique technological features, putting spectators at the center of the show, according to a press release from the company.
Commenting on the launch, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company Abdullah bin Nasser Aldawood said: “Our ambition is for Qiddiya City to become a global destination for entertainment, sports and culture and this iconic new stadium will be at its very heart. The futuristic venue aims to reinvent the traditional stadium concept and embody the true spirit of Qiddiya’s Power of Play philosophy. It uses state-of-the-art technology and innovative, world-leading design to put the spectator at the centre of the experience”. He added, “It will become a bucket-list destination for fans and enthusiasts across the world, hosting major events from across the world of sport and entertainment.”
Designed by leading global architectural firm Populous, the stadium, according to the release, is set to be the world’s first fully integrated venue with a combined retractable roof, pitch and LED wall – an architectural innovation offering unparalleled versatility and allowing the space to transform into different ‘event modes” in a matter of hours. This LED wall will be a portal to live event broadcasts, high-definition films and laser shows, offering guests a novel, immersive experience with each visit. When not activated, it will open to reveal breathtaking views of Qiddiya City.
Guests will be able to enjoy multiple spectacles in a single day, including football, boxing, esports, concerts, and theatre performances to name a few. The stadium will employ cutting-edge technology to provide fans with instant access to live data and information including the use of state-of-the-art holographic technology, enabling virtual interactions with celebrities and stars.
As a central venue in an urban entertainment district, this uniquely versatile space promises an extended play experience with direct and convenient access to Qiddiya City’s vibrant Gaming & Esport District as well as other city entertainment options. Integrated into the city fabric through a variety of transportation choices including park ’n ride and drop-off zones, the stadium is also within direct proximity to 50,000 square meters of shopping, dining and entertainment spaces as well as hotel options.
Once open, the 45-000 seat multi-functional stadium will serve as the home ground of Saudi Pro League football clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr and is one of the proposed venues for the Kingdom’s 2034 FIFA World Cup bid. It is also poised to host some of the region’s biggest sports events including the Saudi King Cup, the Asian Cup and possibly the 2034 Asian Games.
The venue will be able to host events all year-round in its climate-controlled facilities, where energy consumption will be reduced through an eco-friendly cooling lake built directly under the stadium. The lake will use rainwater capture from the stadium and the surrounding area to pre-cool the air conditioning system.
There will be an estimated 7.6 million annual visits to the stadium, playing a key role in Vision 2030’s targets for a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation - driving tourism and creating jobs.
The announcement follows the Crown Prince’s recent unveiling of the transformation of Qiddiya and vision for Qiddiya City to become a global destination for entertainment, sports and culture focused on Qiddiya’s power of play philosophy.
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 individuals, and enhance levels of empathy and social cohesion.
The unveiling of the stadium follows the launch of Qiddiya City’s world first multi-use Gaming & Esports District. More announcements are due in the coming weeks.

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Culture

Altar Found in Guatemalan Jungle Evidence of Mingling of Mayan and Teotihuacan Cultures, Experts Say 

An undated handout picture released by the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture office on April 7, 2025, shows an archaeologist working on a Teotihuacan altar found in 2022 in the Tikal Mayan National Park in Guatemala. (Handout / Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports / AFP)
An undated handout picture released by the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture office on April 7, 2025, shows an archaeologist working on a Teotihuacan altar found in 2022 in the Tikal Mayan National Park in Guatemala. (Handout / Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports / AFP)
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Altar Found in Guatemalan Jungle Evidence of Mingling of Mayan and Teotihuacan Cultures, Experts Say 

An undated handout picture released by the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture office on April 7, 2025, shows an archaeologist working on a Teotihuacan altar found in 2022 in the Tikal Mayan National Park in Guatemala. (Handout / Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports / AFP)
An undated handout picture released by the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture office on April 7, 2025, shows an archaeologist working on a Teotihuacan altar found in 2022 in the Tikal Mayan National Park in Guatemala. (Handout / Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports / AFP)

An altar from the Teotihuacan culture, at the pre-Hispanic heart of what became Mexico, was discovered in Tikal National Park in Guatemala, the center of Mayan culture, demonstrating the interaction between the two societies, Guatemala’s Culture and Sports Ministry announced Monday.

The enormous city-state of Tikal, whose towering temples still stand in the jungle, battled for centuries with the Kaanul dynasty for dominance of the Maya world.

Far to the north in Mexico, just outside present day Mexico City, Teotihuacan -- “the city of the gods” or “the place where men become gods” -- is best known for its twin Temples of the Sun and Moon. It was actually a large city that housed over 100,000 inhabitants and covered around 8 square miles (20 square kilometers).

The still mysterious city was one of the largest in the world at its peak between 100 B.C. and A.D. 750. But it was abandoned before the rise of the Aztecs in the 14th century.

Lorena Paiz, the archaeologist who led the discovery, said that the Teotihuacan altar was believed to have been used for sacrifices, “especially of children.”

“The remains of three children not older than 4 years were found on three sides of the altar,” Paiz told The Associated Press.

“The Teotihuacan were traders who traveled all over the country (Guatemala),” Paiz said. “The Teotihuacan residential complexes were houses with rooms and in the center altars; that’s what the residence that was found is like, with an altar with the figure representing the Storm Goddess.”

It took archaeologists 1½ years to uncover the altar in a dwelling and analyze it before the announcement.

Edwin Román, who leads the South Tikal Archaeological Project within the park, said the discovery shows the sociopolitical and cultural interaction between the Maya of Tikal and Teotihuacan’s elite between 300 and 500 A.D.

Román said the discovery also reinforces the idea that Tikal was a cosmopolitan center at that time, a place where people visited from other cultures, affirming its importance as a center of cultural convergence.

María Belén Méndez, an archaeologist who was not involved with the project, said the discovery confirms “that there has been an interconnection between both cultures and what their relationships with their gods and celestial bodies was like.”

“We see how the issue of sacrifice exists in both cultures. It was a practice; it’s not that they were violent, it was their way of connecting with the celestial bodies,” she said.

The altar is just over a yard (1 meter) wide from east to west and nearly 2 yards (2 meters) from north to south. It is about a yard (1 meter) tall and covered with limestone.

The dwelling where it was found had anthropomorphic figures with tassels in red tones, a detail from the Teotihuacan culture, according to the ministry’s statement.

Tikal National Park is about 325 miles (525 kilometers) north of Guatemala City, and the discovery site is guarded and there are no plans to open it to the public.