Saudi Entertainment Ventures Joins Qiddiya Investment Company

File photo by SPA
File photo by SPA
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Saudi Entertainment Ventures Joins Qiddiya Investment Company

File photo by SPA
File photo by SPA

Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), a global leader in entertainment and developer of the concept of play, has announced the entry of Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) into its group of companies. The move enhances the entertainment ecosystem and achieves integration between QIC’s activities in the sector.
By joining QIC, SEVEN supports the group's objectives in developing the concept of play, enhancing local talents and capabilities, as well as improving the quality of life across Saudi Arabia.
SEVEN will continue to redefine the concept of entertainment in Saudi Arabia and elevate the entertainment experience for visitors by developing and operating 21 entertainment projects in 14 Saudi cities. Investments will total more than SAR 50 billion, SPA reported.
Commenting on this announcement, Abdullah Aldawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company and Chairman of SEVEN, said:
"This move is an important step that enhances our ability to encourage all Saudi Arabia’s residents and visitors, to embrace the concept of play; with its positive impact on society as a whole.
“It aims to develop knowledge, skills and creativity. This step ultimately aims to create a new concept of fun and improve the quality of life by building an integrated and unprecedented entertainment ecosystem capable of contributing significantly to Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification agenda.”
SEVEN has announced a series of partnerships with globally renowned attraction brands such as Transformers and Play Doh from Hasbro, Discovery Adventures from Warner Bros., Hot Wheels from Mattel, Clip ‘n Climb, and Flow House. This offering is further complemented with handpicked retail and food and dining options for all tastes. This follows a series of key announcements in Riyadh, Tabuk, Al Madinah and Yanbu, in addition to nine additional projects that will be unveiled in the coming period.
The announcement of ownership follows the launch of Qiddiya City’s urban plan and global branding in December 2023. Qiddiya seeks to become a leading entertainment, sports and culture powerhouse in the near future, aiming to welcome 48 million visitors annually to enjoy Qiddiya City’s world-class attractions and unique experiences.
PIF launched SEVEN in 2017, while Qiddiya stands as a PIF giga-project. SEVEN reflects PIF’s efforts to develop and empower promising sectors in Saudi Arabia and will contribute to diversifying the economy and increasing the growth of non-oil GDP to meet the aims of Saudi Vision 2030.
Entertainment is one of PIF’s primary strategic local growth sectors, with an aim to enhance integration between projects and companies owned by PIF and increase their operational efficiency. SEVEN will leverage Qiddiya’s capabilities and opportunities to grow investment.



Latest Tests Show Seine Water Quality Was Substandard When Paris Mayor Took a Dip

 Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
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Latest Tests Show Seine Water Quality Was Substandard When Paris Mayor Took a Dip

 Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)
Boats carrying members of delegations sail along the Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26, 2024. (AFP)

Tests results released Friday showed the water quality in the River Seine was slightly below the standards needed to authorize swimming — just as the Paris Olympics start.

Heavy rain during the opening ceremony revived concerns over whether the long-polluted waterway will be clean enough to host swimming competitions, since water quality is deeply linked with the weather in the French capital.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a highly publicized dip last week in a bid to ease fears. The Seine will be used for marathon swimming and triathlon.

Daily water quality tests measure levels of fecal bacteria known as E. coli.

Tests by monitoring group Eau de Paris show that at the Bras Marie, E. coli levels were then above the safe limit of 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters determined by European rules on June 17, when the mayor took a dip.

The site reached a value of 985 on the day the mayor swam with Paris 2024 chief Tony Estanguet and the top government official for the Paris region, Marc Guillaume, joined her, along with swimmers from local swimming clubs.

At two other measuring points further downstream, the results were below the threshold.

The statement by Paris City Hall and the prefecture of the Paris region noted that water quality last week was in line with European rules six days out of seven on the site which is to host the Olympic swimming competitions.

It noted that "the flow of the Seine is highly unstable due to regular rainfall episodes and remains more than twice the usual flow in summer," explaining fluctuating test results.

Swimming in the Seine has been banned for over a century. Since 2015, organizers have invested $1.5 billion to prepare the Seine for the Olympics and to ensure Parisians have a cleaner river after the Games. The plan included constructing a giant underground water storage basin in central Paris, renovating sewer infrastructure, and upgrading wastewater treatment plants.