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Plans are in the pipeline for a short- and long-term stay complex in Saudi Arabia overlooking a motor racing track where Formula 1 tyres will soon burn rubber.
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Beyond just a single hotel, the plans spearheaded by the Kingdom’s Qiddiya City project, will include a five-star Sports Car Hotel with 89 keys, a four-star F1 Overlook Hotel with 168 keys, and 65 serviced apartments designed for longer stays.
According to Fact Magazine Saudi Arabia, the multi-property destination will be located in Qiddiya’s Core Resort District, within East Village South. It’s also reported that the residential complex is tentatively expected to open its doors to the public by 2034.
Earmarked to be 45km from Riyadh’s downtown and 70km from King Khalid International Airport, when completed the Qiddiya City development will be three times the size of Paris and positioned as a one-stop destination for work, leisure, shopping and residences.
Qiddiya City is Saudi Arabia’s ambitious new giga-project, designed to connect residents, tourists and industry professionals with entertainment, sports and cultural offerings in a fully integrated, walkable urban environment.
This includes the anticipated Speed Park motorsport circuit, set to host major international events including Formula 1 during peak seasons, as well as open track days for the public during quieter months.
The residential complex will sit within this development, overlooking the race circuit.
With its eye on smashing a world record, its 70-metre high Blade racetrack, designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz and circuit designer Hermann Tilke, will be the world’s first elevated racetrack corner.
From revved engines to horsepower
Qiddiya City’s plans to position itself as an international sports hub don’t end with motor racing.
Alongside the development of the Speed Park motorsport circuit, plans are also underway for a new horse racing venue.
The planned equestrian racecourse is set to host a range of international race formats and will include the region’s first straight-mile turf course, which is a track layout where horses run without navigating any turns.
Common in Europe, including at Ascot, the straight-mile is used to test equine speed, balance and ability to maintain speed over a direct path. It will also include a 2,200 metre main turf track and 2,400 metre inner dirt track.
“This venue reflects Qiddiya Investment Company’s ambition to set new global benchmarks,” said Abdullah Aldawood, Managing Director of the Qiddiya Investment Company.
“Every element, from racing performance and equine welfare to hospitality and fan engagement, has been designed to meet the expectations of the world’s leading racing jurisdictions.
“In line with our wider vision for Qiddiya City, this state-of-the-art venue is designed to be fully accessible, pioneering a new chapter in spectator engagement and experiences”.
At its heart will be a 21,000-seat grandstand for spectators, with footfall expected to reach as high as 70,000 people during peak seasons.
Off the racetrack, the venue will also offer nine fine-dining spots cooking up menus curated by Michelin-star chefs, as part of its year-round destination ambitions.
Qidiyya City’s offering will include a world-class equestrian hospital that will provide stallions and mares with various services, including diagnostics, surgery, rehabilitation and emergency care.
Once built, the city’s horse racing venue will also become the permanent home of the Saudi Cup, which currently gathers the world’s finest thoroughbred horses and jockeys at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh – all vying to win the “world’s richest horse race” and its $20 million (€16.9 million) grand prize.
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