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$347 Million Saudi Entertainment Destination Announced
SEVEN Abha will feature 8 huge attractions, including a family entertainment center with world-class rides, arcade games, and VR areas.
SEVEN (Saudi Entertainment Ventures), a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced plans to build its 5th entertainment destination in the Kingdom after a $347 cash injection.
The new park will be strategically located between Abha and Khamis Mushait, near the Abha International Airport. The plans for the project are impressive, with eight different zones spanning a total area exceeding 79,000 square meters.
Renowned architectural and design studio Gensler drew inspiration for the park from the ancient stone buildings indigenous to the Aseer region. Meanwhile, the plans follow The Urban Code of Aseer Region, prioritizing “excellence in urban planning, design, landscape, and architecture”.
Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Aseer Development Authority (ASDA), commented: “The Aseer region is experiencing an unprecedented renaissance across various sectors, thanks to the unwavering support from our leadership. SEVEN’s entertainment destination in Abha is a key project for Aseer, supporting our ambition to become a year-round global destination”.
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Chairman of SEVEN, Abdullah AlDawood, added, “Abha represents another ambitious project as part of our efforts to bolster the entertainment sector throughout the Kingdom. By 2030, we anticipate a GDP contribution exceeding SAR 4 billion and over 5 million visitors. Moreover, this project will create hundreds of direct and indirect job opportunities for the people of Aseer”.
SEVEN Abha will feature eight distinct zones or attractions, including a family entertainment center with arcade games, world-class rides, and virtual reality areas. Additionally, Discovery Adventures, a jungle-themed edutainment attraction, has been developed in partnership with Warner Bros, and there will also be a PLAY-DOH-themed entertainment center courtesy of Hasbro.
Finally, the massive entertainment site will offer indoor golfing, live entertainment, multi-level e-karting, futuristic bowling, and a 10-screen AMC cinema.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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