Universal Studios is quietly sketching plans for a theme park in Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal reported, as the kingdom accelerates its bid to become a global entertainment heavyweight.
The Comcast-owned studio is said to be in early concept talks, with a Saudi government-backed entity potentially funding the project through a licensing deal, according to the report.
If greenlit, Universal would drop straight into Saudi Arabia’s fast-expanding entertainment ecosystem, part of a broader economic overhaul aimed at keeping leisure spending at home. At the center of that push is Qiddiya City, the sprawling entertainment hub rising near Riyadh with backing from the kingdom’s sovereign investor, the Public Investment Fund.
Qiddiya is already revving its engines. A Six Flags theme park is due to open on December 31, featuring 28 rides and an arsenal of record-breakers, including Falcons Flight, billed as the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, alongside Iron Rattler, the tallest tilt coaster, and Spitfire, the tallest inverted coaster. The park will also mark Six Flags’ first foray outside North America.
Universal’s flirtation with the kingdom comes as Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund stretches its reach across global entertainment. Earlier this month, PIF joined investors from the UAE and Qatar to back a staggering $108.4 billion Paramount–Skydance bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. It has also bought into video game giant Electronic Arts, signalling that Saudi Arabia is targeting everything from blockbuster films and AAA games to real-world thrills.
📌 Why it matters:
Saudi Arabia is fast-tracking its shift away from oil by buying into global entertainment — from Hollywood studios and video games to record-breaking theme parks.
📌 Bottom line:
With the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund writing the checks, Saudi Arabia isn’t just chasing fun — it’s building an entertainment empire.
