SEVEN Announces Plans for Second Entertainment Complex in Riyadh

An actor poses with a replica of a vintage cinema camera as visitors enter a screening, at the King Abdullah Financial District Theater, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April 2018. (AP)
An actor poses with a replica of a vintage cinema camera as visitors enter a screening, at the King Abdullah Financial District Theater, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April 2018. (AP)
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SEVEN Announces Plans for Second Entertainment Complex in Riyadh

An actor poses with a replica of a vintage cinema camera as visitors enter a screening, at the King Abdullah Financial District Theater, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April 2018. (AP)
An actor poses with a replica of a vintage cinema camera as visitors enter a screening, at the King Abdullah Financial District Theater, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April 2018. (AP)

A second mega entertainment hub in Saudi capital Riyadh has been revealed by the Saudi Entertainment Ventures Company (SEVEN) – a fully owned subsidiary of Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The company announced the location of its first entertainment destinations in December.

The new project's location in Al-Rabwa neighborhood was chosen due to the population density in the region, its need for modern leisure destinations and for ease of access since it is located close to the Salah Al-Din station of the Riyadh metro project.

The complex will be spread across 135,000 square meters. It will include a variety of carefully selected recreational facilities along with restaurants and cafes, open spaces for events, sports and live shows, as well as cinema halls, to become the top destinations for residents, visitors, and tourists.

Chairman of SEVEN, Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Dawoud said his company's projects will be the largest entertainment destination expanded under a geographical plan covering all of the Kingdom’s regions, to offer diverse entertainment options with a modern design and a unique character.

The planned comprehensive entertainment complex allows all the family members to enjoy their time and provide services for all categories in line with the Kingdom's aim to improve the lifestyle of Saudis and residents. The visitor will be able to spend hours in an inclusive all-day entertainment trip.

The Saudi Entertainment Ventures Company works on providing a new investment capital to support the growth of entertainment sector and the diversification of the Saudi economy on the short and long terms.

PIF announced SEVEN's establishment as an investment arm aimed at supporting, developing, and boosting the entertainment sector infrastructure and building partnerships with private and public parties.

SEVEN works to enhance the entertainment sector and build an integrated sustainable system in the Kingdom by focusing on four sectors starting with the opening of the first cinema in April 2018 in partnership with AMC, the largest cinema operator in the world; then, the second sector of recreational complexes with the first complex announced in December 2018 in Riyadh and the second in March 2019. Its strategy also covers the sector of amusement parks and family entertainment centers.



New Pair of Giant Pandas Gifted by Beijing Arrives in Hong Kong

A zookeeper feeds An An, one of two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, before heading to its new destination, at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, in southwestern China's Sichuan province on September 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
A zookeeper feeds An An, one of two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, before heading to its new destination, at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, in southwestern China's Sichuan province on September 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
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New Pair of Giant Pandas Gifted by Beijing Arrives in Hong Kong

A zookeeper feeds An An, one of two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, before heading to its new destination, at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, in southwestern China's Sichuan province on September 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
A zookeeper feeds An An, one of two giant pandas gifted to Hong Kong, before heading to its new destination, at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Dujiangyan, in southwestern China's Sichuan province on September 24, 2024. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT

Hong Kong welcomed a new pair of giant pandas gifted by Beijing on Thursday with a lavish ceremony, raising hopes for a boost to the city's tourism.
An An and Ke Ke are the third pair of giant pandas to be sent to the city from mainland China since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Their arrival came after their new neighbor, Ying Ying, gave birth to twins last month and became the world’s oldest first-time panda mother on record, The Associated Press reported.
The newcomers bring the Ocean Park panda population to six, including the father of the twins, Le Le. Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-Yee noted that would make three generations of giant pandas at the popular Hong Kong zoo and aquarium attraction.
Chief Executive John Lee said An An is a 5-year-old male panda who is agile, intelligent and active, while Ke Ke, a 5-year-old female, is good at climbing, cute and has a gentle temperament.
The new arrivals will be in quarantine for two months to adapt to their new home. Lee expressed hope that the public could meet the new bears in mid-December.
In October, the government will invite residents to propose new names that showcase the pandas’ characteristics.
Tourism industry representatives are optimistic about the potential impact of housing six pandas, hoping it will boost visitor numbers in Hong Kong. Officials have encouraged businesses to capitalize on the popularity of the new bears and newborn cubs to seize opportunities in what some lawmakers have dubbed the “panda economy."
Pandas are considered China’s unofficial national mascot. The country's giant panda loan program with overseas zoos has long been seen as a tool of Beijing’s soft-power diplomacy. Giant pandas are only found in China's southwest and their population is under threat from development.
But caring for pandas in captivity is expensive.