Saudi PIF Unveils ‘The Rig.’ Project: World’s First Tourism Destination on Offshore Platforms

PIF announced on the launch of “THE RIG.”, a new tourism project that is inspired by offshore oil platforms. (PIF)
PIF announced on the launch of “THE RIG.”, a new tourism project that is inspired by offshore oil platforms. (PIF)
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Saudi PIF Unveils ‘The Rig.’ Project: World’s First Tourism Destination on Offshore Platforms

PIF announced on the launch of “THE RIG.”, a new tourism project that is inspired by offshore oil platforms. (PIF)
PIF announced on the launch of “THE RIG.”, a new tourism project that is inspired by offshore oil platforms. (PIF)

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Saturday the launch of “THE RIG.”, a new tourism project that is inspired by offshore oil platforms.

“THE RIG.” will be located in the Arabian Gulf and will span a combined total area of more than 150,000 square meters and provide a multitude of hospitality offerings, adventures, and aquatic sporting experiences.

“THE RIG.” is a project in the tourism and entertainment sector, one of PIF’s key strategic sectors, and is expected to be a significant value-add to the local economy, said a statement. Additionally, to ensure the sustainable preservation of the environment in the project’s vicinity, the project will follow leading global standards and best practices, further supporting the Kingdom’s broader efforts on environmental protection.

This project is a unique tourism attraction, expected to attract tourists from around the world, while being especially popular with citizens and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

“THE RIG.” will feature a number of touristic attractions, including three hotels, world-class restaurants, helipads, and a range of adventurous activities, including extreme sports.

“THE RIG.” is in line with PIF’s strategy 2021-2025 to drive innovation in Saudi Arabia’s tourism and entertainment sectors, providing promising development opportunities to achieve economic diversification in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

To support Saudi Arabia’s efforts to become a leading global tourist destination, PIF has established several major projects and companies in various regions within the country, including the Red Sea Development Company, Alsoudah Development Company and the Cruise Saudi Company.



Mawani Reports 13% Growth in Container Handling at Ports in May 2025

Mawani Reports 13% Growth in Container Handling at Ports in May 2025
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Mawani Reports 13% Growth in Container Handling at Ports in May 2025

Mawani Reports 13% Growth in Container Handling at Ports in May 2025

Ports supervised by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) recorded a 13% increase in container handling during May 2025, reaching 720,684 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared with 639,736 TEUs in the same period last year.

Transshipment containers increased by 12.89%, totaling 149,143 TEUs compared to 132,112 last year. Imports also grew by 15.84%, reaching 292,223 TEUs, compared to 252,265 TEUs in May 2024, SPA reported.

Outgoing containers increased by 9.38%, totaling 279,318 TEUs compared to 255,359 TEUs in the same month last year.

Total handled cargo—including general cargo, solid bulk, and liquid bulk—increased by 1.40% to reach 21,337,699 tons, up from 21,042,684 tons in the corresponding period of 2024. This total includes 935,932 tons of general cargo, 5,059,899 tons of solid bulk cargo, and 15,341,868 tons of liquid bulk cargo.

The ports also received 1,635,489 heads of livestock, marking a 61.22% increase from 1,014,417 in the same period last year. Maritime traffic rose by 9.39%, with 1,083 vessels received compared to 990 last year. Passenger numbers increased by 68.15% to 95,231, up from 56,636 in May 2024. The number of vehicles grew by 13.09% to 84,352, compared to 74,590 last year.