Saudi PIF-owned Qiddiya names Abdullah Aldawood new MD

Riyadh-based Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has appointed Abdullah bin Nasser Aldawood as managing director and a member of its board of directors.

Aldawood will work under the leadership of the board of directors and in cooperation with the executive management led by CEO Philippe Gas, QIC said in a statement.

QIC is owned by the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund. The company is developing Qiddiya, an entertainment megaproject that will include theme parks and sports facilities for international competitions.

Located south-west of Riyadh, Qiddiya will also have sports and arts academies, entertainment venues, racetracks for motorsport enthusiasts, outdoor and adventure activities, and historical, cultural and educational activities.

The project was started in 2018 and is part of the Saudi Vision 2030, a roadmap to diversify the kingdom’s economy beyond its core petroleum sector by investing heavily in sectors such as tourism and entertainment.

Aldawood is also the head of Saudi Entertainment Ventures, another PIF-owned company that is working to develop the kingdom’s entertainment sector.

He was earlier the chief executive officer at Seera Holding Group, where he led the company’s transformation that helped its operations go digital.