Comcast is reportedly within the early planning phases of Common Studios Saudi Arabia, a brand new marquee theme park that might be constructed within the Center East. This covers particulars of the potential mission, when and the way it would possibly come to fruition, and our commentary about Common following Disney’s lead and doing a deal to achieve a gate in Saudi Arabia.
This potential mission is unconfirmed at this level, but additionally unsurprising. Common Locations & Experiences CEO Mark Woodbury has repeatedly reiterated plans for aggressive enlargement in Orlando, Hollywood and past, as we coated just a few months in the past in Common Orlando Plans Growth at All 3 Parks & Endorses “Rising Tides” Principle. Since then, a number of initiatives have began or been permitted, regardless of nothing being introduced (not unusual with Common).
Then there are all the initiatives that have been introduced. This information comes on the heels of different key developments for Common Locations & Experiences, together with the opening of Epic Universe at Common Orlando Resort and Common Horror Unleashed Las Vegas, together with the 2026 launch of Common Youngsters Resort in Frisco, Texas, and plans for an additional Common Horror Unleashed in Chicago. Then there’s the largest mission of all: Common Studios Nice Britain, Common’s first theme park and resort in Europe, which simply obtained the greenlight and is slated to open in 2031.
As for Common Studios Saudi Arabia (not the confirmed title–there isn’t one since this hasn’t been formally introduced!), a brand new report within the Wall Avenue Journal signifies that Common Locations & Experiences is contemplating a brand new theme park within the nation.
The report signifies that the Saudi Arabia theme park complicated is at the moment within the “early planning phases” with preliminary idea work underway. Common Studios Saudi Arabia will doubtless be funded by a Saudi government-backed entity as a part of a licensing cope with Comcast, which is par for the course with theme park initiatives within the Center East.
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts visited Saudi Arabia final month as he has been exploring a attainable bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, in response to sources with data of the matter. Roberts reportedly met with representatives from the nation’s deep-pocketed Public Funding Fund (PIF), per Puck Information.
On the time, Roberts and Woodbury had been stated to be contemplating whether or not to construct a brand new Common theme park in Qiddiya, which is a PIF tourism and leisure “giga mission” that harnesses the facility of play. The Qiddiya Metropolis growth is situated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This could not be the primary try at constructing a Common Studios theme park within the Center East. Again in 2007, the corporate introduced Common Studios Dubailand, with a groundbreaking in 2008 and development of the enduring studios gateway. The mission was scheduled to open in 2010 earlier than being deserted. Sometimes, photographs of the gateway in a sea of nothingness go viral.
This time would most likely be completely different. Not solely can we view this potential mission as one that’s virtually assuredly going to be introduced, however it’ll most likely be constructed this time. It’s a savvy transfer on Common’s half, and one which follows within the footsteps of what Disney revealed earlier this yr.
As you’re doubtless conscious, Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Disney’s seventh Theme Park Resort & First in Center East, was introduced again within the spring. That park is slated to be constructed on Yas Island, which sounds strikingly just like the Qiddiya complicated. It’s additionally within the early phases of growth, and might be a mid-2030s mission.
Disneyland Abu Dhabi will likely be totally developed, constructed, and operated by the Miral Group. Imagineers are offering artistic design, and the Walt Disney Firm is providing operational oversight. Disney’s settlement is a licensing deal, with the corporate itself not spending any cash.
Comcast will virtually actually take the identical course, which is savvy within the quick time period. It means Common Studios Saudi Arabia will present money movement to assist fund the corporate’s many different simultaneous theme park initiatives, versus being one other funding by Comcast itself.
That is additionally the popular method within the near-term, as current theme parks within the Center East by the massive names haven’t been instantly financially profitable. There’s positively potential given the rising market of income-qualified friends, however these park operators would nonetheless doubtless take a wait and see method for the subsequent couple of many years earlier than spending their very own cash within the area.
Tokyo Disney Resort, which is wholly owned and operated by Oriental Land Firm, is one of the best operational instance of the mannequin that each Common Locations and Disney Experiences would observe within the Center East.
Imagineering is the unique contractor for design work, with the agency being paid for the lands, sights, resorts, and all different Disney artistic at Tokyo Disney Resort. Disney additionally earns royalties on all income generated at Tokyo Disney Resort, believed to be 10% of ticket gross sales and 5% of in-park purchases.
Whereas this looks as if a fantastic deal for Disney–a free income stream with out draw back threat–Michael Eisner truly got here to view the licensure mannequin as a mistake and went a distinct course (arguably the improper one) with the park in Paris. After all, there are key variations between the Walt Disney Firm and Japan within the Nineteen Eighties, and the respective firms and the Center East within the 2030s.
There was great upside on the time. The partnership with OLC gave Disney a income stream to endure the early years of EPCOT Heart, fund future enlargement, and in the end propelled the corporate into turning into the behemoth it’s immediately. So wanting again immediately, it’s straightforward to say Disney ought to’ve constructed Tokyo Disneyland on their very own, however the contemporaneous circumstances and dangers had been very completely different.
Trying on the panorama of the leisure business immediately, together with each Disney’s and Common’s plans for aggressive enlargement, in addition to the underlying non-economic motivations for Center Jap international locations to gather new theme parks (international status, popularity, and legitimacy), one would possibly conclude that the licensing mannequin is likewise one of the best plan of action in Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi.
It’s laborious to think about both firm selecting the Center East as the situation for its subsequent self-funded theme park. That is very true provided that each have already got established a presence in China and have gained expertise at doing enterprise there. In the event that they’re prepared to take the danger and put money into a global market, there are nonetheless a number of sensible alternatives there.
As we mentioned at higher size within the commentary to Disney’s announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi, the timing can also be completely different than had these theme park firms constructed within the Center East again after they first had the alternatives to take action within the 2010s. We likened it to sports activities betting, which was controversial and had underwater approval lower than a decade in the past however has shortly been legalized, normalized, and turn out to be ubiquitous within the years since.
It’s an identical story right here, as western firms are racing to safe sweetheart offers and develop their presence within the Center East. Particularly, LIV Golf has softened stances amongst People even in direction of Saudi Arabia; whereas extremely controversial at first, its acceptance over time has most likely desensitized individuals.
Future American entities that guess large on Saudi Arabia gained’t be met with almost the identical scrutiny, because the dam already broke. This isn’t the primary time sports activities has had that impact; the identical might be stated in regards to the 2008 Beijing Summer time Olympics and Shanghai Disneyland.
The record of western firms within the Center East is extremely lengthy, together with Microsoft, Financial institution of America, Uber, Nvidia, Boeing, Basic Motors, FedEx, Amazon, Google and Mastercard. There are additionally numerous American chains with outstanding presences, together with Bloomingdale’s, Tub & Physique Works, Payless, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Applebee’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chuck E. Cheese, Starbucks, and McDonald’s. Any luxurious retailer or main American restaurant chain you’ll be able to title most likely has outposts within the Center East.
There was positively some backlash to Disney’s announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi in fan circles, however it was not as fierce or long-lasting as it might’ve been again in 2018. Furthermore, Common and Disney are completely different manufacturers with completely different shopper expectations. Between that sensible actuality and Disney making its model of this announcement first, we’d be stunned if there’s a lot outrage over Common Studios Saudi Arabia as soon as Comcast does make it official.
There’s additionally the truth that Common Locations & Experiences usually doesn’t announce initiatives till they’re a lot additional alongside in growth, so we might not get official affirmation of this for a pair extra years. It’s solely attainable that Common Saudi Arabia is simply as far alongside (if not additional!) as Disneyland Abu Dhabi, however Comcast has opted to attend to announce.
Barring one other controversy within the coming years, the American public is simply prone to turn out to be much more accepting of investments within the Center East. The trajectory appears roughly the identical as sports activities betting. There’s additionally the sensible actuality that it doesn’t matter that a lot. It looks as if most of the people has largely forgotten Disney’s announcement of Disneyland Abu Dhabi, and it’s not as if People are the goal demographic within the first place. Globetrotting followers will doubtless represent roughly .01% of the attendance at these new theme parks.
In the end, there’s much more floor to cowl with this Common Studios Saudi Arabia. Although we totally consider it is a really-for-real mission that can truly be constructed this time, we’ll wait to additional focus on the theme park till Common Locations truly broadcasts it.
We wouldn’t be stunned if Comcast doesn’t make this official for an additional yr, ready for extra concrete plans earlier than the massive reveal. However, this isn’t like a alternative for Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit and no matter they’re doing in Misplaced Continent. Saudi companions will doubtless dictate the timing of an announcement, and Comcast would possibly likewise be motivated to announce earlier for the enhance they’ll get from Wall Avenue.
The licensing mannequin makes it a protected guess from Comcast’s perspective, and one which’ll assist gas progress and fund initiatives which might be truly financially viable for Common. In the meantime, state companions are motivated much less by fast income and as a lot or extra by status, that means that Common Studios Saudi Arabia may find yourself being the Epic Universe of the Center East. (Right here’s hoping they construct extra indoor sights, although!)
Common Studios Saudi Arabia has the potential to be a “spare no expense” mission that’s totally fleshed out from opening day. It’s means too quickly to make any sweeping statements, however Common Studios Saudi Arabia may turn out to be one of the best park within the firm’s portfolio.
The largest potential query mark (and obstacle to that) could be whether or not each Common Artistic and Imagineering’s skills are unfold too skinny given retirements of the outdated guard and so many simultaneous initiatives now. However that’s one other subject for an additional day.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider the potentiality of Common Studios Saudi Arabia? Assume Comcast will truly transfer ahead with the mission? Is it a protected guess to do this kind of licensing deal to assist fund financially-viable initiatives in the US and Europe? The place is your dream location for a brand new Common theme park–both near residence or your favourite journey vacation spot? Some other hypothesis, commentary, or questions? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your take under!
