Qiddiya City has achieved a new global milestone by obtaining accreditation from the Destination Marketing and Management Evaluation Program with a distinction ranking from the World Destinations Organization, becoming the first destination management organization in the Middle East to receive this classification, and joining a select group of tourist destinations worldwide that have achieved the highest evaluation scores in the international program.

This accreditation is the highest level granted by the program to entities that exceed all required standards without registering any areas needing improvement, as only less than 20% of the approximately 200 organizations worldwide that have received program accreditation achieved the distinction ranking, reflecting Qiddiya's excellence in applying global best practices in tourist destination management and development.

Tourism in Qiddiya City

Mohammed Basrawi, CEO of Marketing and Destination Management at Qiddiya Investment, confirmed that this achievement sends a clear message to the global tourism community that Qiddiya City is being built according to the highest international standards.

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He noted that the accreditation reflects the city's commitment to operational excellence, developing visitor experience, and establishing the philosophy of 'Play Power' as a driver for creativity, quality of life, and sustainable development. CEO of the World Destinations Organization, Don Welsh, praised Qiddiya City's inclusion in the list of accredited organizations, affirming that its distinction ranking embodies the quality and performance levels the organization aspires to see in leading tourist destinations worldwide.

The Destination Marketing and Management Evaluation Program is one of the most prominent independent global frameworks for measuring destination efficiency, evaluating performance in areas such as governance, financial management, operational processes, human resources, technology, visitor services, sales, brand management, destination development, and partnership building. Qiddiya City, being developed on an area of 360 square kilometers west of Riyadh as part of the Public Investment Fund projects, continues to strengthen its position as the Kingdom's capital of entertainment, sports, and culture.

A Range of Distinctive Projects

It began receiving visitors at the end of 2025 with the opening of several key destinations, including Six Flags Qiddiya, Aquarabia water park, and Play Maker Studios for film production.

The city is also proceeding with the implementation of a set of distinctive projects, including the National Tennis Center, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, a speed circuit for motor sports, a world-class golf course, an e-sports and gaming zone, a performing arts center, and a horse racing track.

In addition to developing residential neighborhoods, hotels, commercial facilities, and a modern transport network, as part of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 aimed at establishing the Kingdom's status as a global tourist and entertainment destination.