The Rig, an amusement park made out of an oil rig in Saudi Arabia

The world is full of amusement parks, there is one, however, that promises to be extraordinary: it is The Rig, new adrenaline-pumping destination in the heart of theSaudi Arabia. An oil-inspired amusement park expected to open in July 2022.

But what is The Rig and where did its idea come from? Let's find out together.

Everything we know about The Rig

Saudi Arabia's economy depends mainly on oil activity, but today the country is one of the rising tourist destinations. The credit? Its cultural richness. Here there are the rock carvings of early civilizations, Mecca and Medina, there are the skyscrapers of Jeddah, the sea, the mosques. There is desert and there is luxury. The eleven thousand archaeological sites and six UNESCO sites, shopping malls and an increasingly green future. It is in this context that The Rig, a Amusement park carved out of a 150,000-square-meter oil platform in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), The Rig will host three hotels and eleven restaurants distributed across a number of interconnected platforms, but also carousels like the roller coaster and adrenaline activities such as bungee jumping and skydiving.

The park's renderings and promotional video tell the story of its goal: to give diverse hospitality, adventure and water sports options. Described as the "World's first tourist destination inspired by offshore oil rigs", The Rig fits into the long-term strategy of the Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to reposition Saudi Arabia as a major international tourist destination and diversify its economy.

Of the new attraction, at present, only a probable opening date is known (July 2022) and some details are known: you will be able to reach her By helicopter, ferry, yacht, or aboard a cruise ship. There will be three hotels overlooking the water, eleven restaurants and they will serve from tapas to fine seafood specialties.

What's behind the project

Millions of people visiting the holy city of Mecca, conservative laws restricting women's freedoms, very little respect for human rights-Saudi Arabia is certainly not at the top of the list of destinations for Westerners to visit. However, the country is determined to change its image in the eyes of the world. Wants to be able to compete with neighboring Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and with Oman, and aims to reach 100 million visitors a year between now and 2030.

In early 2021, plans for the creation of an additional airline (the flag carrier is now Saudia, formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines) and the $147 million investment in infrastructure and transportation previously announced by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was confirmed. Subsequently it had been the turn of the Six Flags Qiddiya amusement park with the world's fastest roller coaster. A park that, part of a new city to be built outside Ryadh, will open in 2023.