Construction of the World's First "Dragon Ball" Theme Park Announced in Saudi Arabia's Entertainment Megacity "Qiddya City"
On the 22nd, Katsuhiro Takagi, President of Toei Animation Co., Ltd. (hereafter "Toei Animation"), attended the signing ceremony in Tokyo for the Saudi Arabian megaproject "Qiddya (Qiddiya)" and announced the construction of the world's first "Dragon Ball" theme park in Qiddya City, Saudi Arabia.
At the beginning of the event, Takagi mentioned the recent passing of "Dragon Ball" creator Akira Toriyama on the 1st, expressing condolences: "The other day, Mr. Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, passed away. I would like to offer my deepest sympathies here."
Akira Toriyama debuted in 1978 with "Wonder Island" and later released popular works such as "Dr. Slump" and "Dragon Ball" in "Weekly Shōnen Jump." "Dragon Ball," which began serialization in 1984, has become globally popular, spawning anime adaptations and live-action films, and continues to be cherished. On this day, Toei Animation agreed on a strategic partnership for the "Qiddya" project with Qiddiya Investment Co. (QIC), a fully-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, to collaborate in the development of the entertainment megacity Qiddya City and maximize the value of Japanese anime.
The participation in the "Dragon Ball" project, a manga serialized in "Weekly Shōnen Jump" (Shueisha) since 1984, has been decided. The construction of the world's only Dragon Ball theme park was announced, spanning an area larger than ten Tokyo Domes, featuring seven zones and over thirty attractions. A giant roller coaster will be installed inside the park's symbol, a 70-meter-tall "Shenron" dragon. The park will recreate iconic motifs from the series, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the world of "Dragon Ball."
The park will not only have restaurants and shops but also a hotel, providing a space where visitors can immerse themselves in the universe all day, with evening drone shows and other spectacular entertainments planned.
Abdullah Aldawood, CEO of QIC, also spoke at the signing ceremony.