22 | In Practice
re we now seeing a completely new profile and approach in terms of Entertainment projects, whether in terms of their scale and scope, or the role they have for national prestige and PR? How does this impact the way that Cundall interacts with the client and key stakeholders?
We are absolutely seeing a new approach and level of entertainment projects in the region. The ambitions and plans we are seeing in Saudi Arabia are pushing all boundaries in the entertainment space. The
sheer scale of the plans, as outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, are even more ambitious when you consider the starting point. Pre-2018 none of these plans existed so the delivery needs a completely different approach. Demand from the local KSA market has peaked and the pressure to get these attractions out there means the entire supply chain has to adapt to deal with volume the industry has not previously experienced. This then means we need to come up with innovative ways to ensure we can all deliver the right product. The most significant impact we have seen in dealing with our stakeholders is the level of collaboration and knowledge sharing expected to enable these dreams to become a reality, and this is a style of engagement we always strongly advocate at Cundall. The willingness in the client space to collaborate has also been extremely refreshing as everyone is embarking on this journey together, and the goals can only be fulfilled
Entertainment is all about creating experiences and in Saudi Arabia, creating such experiences is putting the nation on the world tourism map.
if we are all willing to learn from each other and be flexible in our approaches. We are working very closely with Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), for example, who are investing over SAR 50 billion on their attraction roll out in 21 entertainment destinations across 14 cities which includes their Discovery and Play-Doh attractions. This is delivery on a huge scale with consultants and vendors all across the globe, that is only possible with a level of collaboration that matches the vision. In KSA, the development of innovative
“A Creative Opportunity to be Inventive” In the current development of Saudi Arabia the Entertainment sector is playing a critical role, both in terms of its innovation and previously unprecedented scale. Middle East Consultant speaks to Lee French, Partner & Operations Director MENA, Cundall, who gives a series of unique insights into the Entertainment sector and the rationale and vision underlying key projects… June 2023
rides,
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attractions, mega sporting events and cinemas is driving the growth of the sector. How are these projects changing the face of the kingdom’s entertainment sector?
Firstly, and this is very important to note, it’s not just changing the face of the Kingdom’s entertainment sector but changing the face of the Kingdom full stop. KSA is now recognised as a genuine world leader in the entertainment space and is already competing on a global stage. The goal is for KSA to be a legitimate premium destination and the committed projects and pipeline, with more than $13 billion in investment by SEVEN alone, is completely transforming the sector. You only need to look at the incredible growth rates and projections to get a true picture of what is evolving in front of our eyes. Since there is a brewing appetite for leisure and entertainment projects in the kingdom, how have they been approached differently from a design perspective? meconstructionnews.com