Universal Just Confirmed Plans for a Theme Park in Saudi Arabia—And It Could Open Before the End of the Decade

If you thought Epic Universe was Universal’s biggest expansion project, think again. The company just confirmed it’s exploring plans to build an entirely new theme park in Saudi Arabia—and this one could make Orlando look like a warm-up act.

According to WDW News Today, Universal Studios is in early-stage planning for a theme park that would be part of Qiddiya City, a massive entertainment, sports, and culture development southwest of Riyadh. The project is being financed by a Saudi government-backed entity as part of a licensing deal with Universal.

This Is Universal’s Move in the Middle East Theme Park Wars

Universal isn’t doing this in a vacuum. Disney announced plans for a theme park in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, and now Universal is making its own play for the Middle Eastern market. The timing isn’t coincidental—it’s strategic.

The region is experiencing a tourism boom driven by massive government investments in entertainment infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative aims to transform the country into a global tourism destination, and theme parks are a cornerstone of that plan.

Universal’s entry into Saudi Arabia signals that the company sees this as more than just an international expansion—it’s a chance to compete with Disney on entirely new turf where neither brand has an established foothold.

What We Know About the Qiddiya Location

Qiddiya City isn’t some small development. We’re talking about a project that spans over 334 square kilometers—more than twice the size of Walt Disney World. Once complete, it’s expected to attract 48 million visitors annually and contribute $4.5 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP.

The site will house far more than just Universal Studios. It’s being designed as a complete destination featuring sports facilities, cultural attractions, entertainment venues, and residential areas. Six Flags Qiddiya City is scheduled to open on December 31, 2025, giving us a preview of what the larger development will look like.

For Universal, this location offers something unique: the chance to build a world-class theme park from scratch in a market with essentially zero competition from established Western brands. It’s a greenfield opportunity that rarely exists anymore.

Comcast CEO Visited Saudi Arabia Last Month

This isn’t just exploratory talk. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts visited Saudi Arabia last month for an investment conference and toured the Qiddiya site where the Universal park would be built.

Roberts told Saudi Gazette at the time: “Universal Studios is in the early planning stages of building a new theme park in Saudi Arabia. The project is currently in initial concept work, not yet finalized or under construction… Qiddiya could be the location for such a park.”

That statement is carefully worded, but the message is clear: Universal is serious about this. When the CEO of Comcast personally visits a potential theme park site halfway around the world, it’s not a courtesy call—it’s business.

What Kind of Theme Park Could This Be?

Universal hasn’t released any details about what the Saudi Arabia park might look like, but we can make some educated guesses based on the company’s recent projects.

Epic Universe, which opened in Orlando earlier this year, represents Universal’s most ambitious park design to date. It features immersive lands built around major franchises like Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, and How to Train Your Dragon. The park essentially doubled Universal Orlando’s total available acreage and contains over 50 experiences.

Saudi Arabia’s Universal park could follow a similar model—large-scale, highly themed lands centered on Universal’s biggest intellectual properties. But it would also need to account for the local culture and climate, which means adapting ride experiences, entertainment offerings, and operational schedules to fit the region.

One thing is certain: if Universal is investing in Saudi Arabia, it won’t be a scaled-down version of an existing park. The company doesn’t do half-measures, especially not when competing directly with Disney in a high-stakes market.

The Timeline Is Still Uncertain

Universal emphasized that the project is in its “earliest conceptual stages” with no construction begun and no final agreement completed. That means we’re years away from seeing any actual development.

Based on typical theme park construction timelines and the fact that Qiddiya City itself is still under development, a realistic target for opening would likely be sometime in the 2030s. For context, Epic Universe took roughly five years from announcement to opening, and that was on land Universal already owned in a market where it had decades of operational experience.

Building an entirely new park in a foreign country with different regulations, climate conditions, and cultural expectations will take even longer. But given the scale of Saudi Arabia’s investment in tourism infrastructure and the government backing behind the project, Universal will have the resources and support to move as quickly as possible.

Why This Matters for Theme Park Fans

Universal’s expansion into Saudi Arabia is significant for several reasons.

First, it confirms that the global theme park industry is entering a new phase of growth. After decades of focusing on established markets like the United States and Asia, major brands are now looking at the Middle East as a viable—and potentially lucrative—destination for world-class attractions.

Second, it intensifies the competition between Universal and Disney. These two companies have been battling for market share in Orlando for years, but now that fight is going global. Whoever establishes the strongest presence in the Middle East first will have a significant advantage in attracting international visitors.

Third, it could influence what kinds of experiences Universal builds in its other parks. If the Saudi Arabia location introduces new ride technologies, storytelling approaches, or operational innovations, we could see those ideas migrate to Orlando, Hollywood, and other Universal properties around the world.

What Happens Next?

For now, Universal’s Saudi Arabia project remains in the planning phase. The company will likely spend the next year or two refining concepts, negotiating final agreements, and conducting feasibility studies before breaking ground.

But make no mistake: this is happening. When a major corporation like Comcast sends its CEO to tour a potential theme park site and publicly confirms it’s exploring plans, that’s not speculation—it’s a declaration of intent.

Universal has proven with Epic Universe that it can deliver world-class theme park experiences that rival anything Disney offers. Now it’s taking that expertise to Saudi Arabia, where it will compete head-to-head with Disney for dominance in one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets.

The theme park wars just went global. And Universal is ready to fight.