Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from global oil and gas contractors for a $5bn ‘oil rig theme park’ called The Rig.
The Rig will be an offshore ‘extreme park’ in the Persian Gulf. Covering an area of more than 150,000 square metres, the attraction will be situated on repurposed oil platforms.
Upstream (via Energy Voice) reports that the total work on offer could exceed $5bn in value. The project could include up to four offshore platforms linked by bridges.
The Rig will offer several attractions and experiences, including extreme sports, three hotels, 11 restaurants and live entertainment.
It will reportedly feature a water park, theme park rides and retail spaces. The RFP was launched by Oil Park Development Company (OPDC), a subsidiary of the PIF.
The Rig, an offshore ‘extreme park’
“This is no theme park – it’s an extreme park, an entirely new playground of adventure,” the website says. “Take every sport that ever caught air, rode a wave or defied gravity.”
“Test your limits at bungee, board and base jumping. Top your best on wing and water. Then catch your breath – you’ve barely begun. Explore our state-of-the-sport platform, enriched with our world-famous Saudi hospitality.”
Guests will arrive by ferry, yacht, cruise ship or helicopter. The Rig is part of the PIF’s 2021-2025 strategy, which aims to diversify the economy in order to reduce the kingdom’s reliance on oil.
Saudi Arabia is creating a host of attractions and giga-projects as part of Vision 2030, including the first water park in Saudi Arabia at Qiddiya.
Qiddiya’s managing director Abdullah Aldawood said the attraction will be home to “experiences that have never before been offered in Saudi”.
Additional developments include the kingdom’s $500bn city of the future Neom and the Red Sea Project.
Images: PIF
