Global YouTube phenomenon Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as MrBeast, is launching his first-ever pop-up theme park, Beast Land, in Saudi Arabia’s capital. The park is set to be a major attraction within the annual Riyadh Season festival, marking a significant move by one of the world’s top content creators into the MENA region’s burgeoning entertainment sector.
From YouTube Videos To Real-World Attractions
Beast Land aims to bring the high-stakes, imaginative challenges from MrBeast’s videos to life. Donaldson emphasized that the park will feature original games and experiences that are not available anywhere else, moving beyond the typical theme park model.
Announced attractions include “Tower Siege,” where participants use catapults to launch balls into towering tubes, “Airmail,” a zipline challenge requiring players to drop a weighted bag onto a target, and “Drop Zone,” a game of chance with trap doors over a ball pit. Donaldson stated his goal was to create a park with “tons of original games” that he would personally want to play, supplemented by traditional rollercoasters and rides.
A Nod To A Growing MENA Fanbase
When asked about the choice of location, Donaldson highlighted the massive viewership he commands from the region. “I wanted to give them a chance to participate,” he explained, noting that a majority of his audience is outside of the United States and that he has a “big Middle Eastern fan base.”
This strategic decision reflects the growing importance of the MENA market for global brands and creators, who recognize the region’s highly engaged and digitally-native population.
Powering Saudi’s Entertainment Vision
The inclusion of a global brand like MrBeast is a significant addition to Riyadh Season, a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s initiative to develop its entertainment and tourism industries. The festival, which launched in 2022, has rapidly grown in scale and ambition.
Overseen by the General Entertainment Authority, Riyadh Season reportedly attracted over 16 million visitors in the previous year. The launch of Beast Land within one of the festival’s 11 zones is expected to draw large crowds of fans from across the Kingdom and the wider region, running from November 13 to December 27.
About Riyadh Season
Riyadh Season is an annual state-funded entertainment and sports festival held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Launched in 2022 as part of the Saudi Seasons initiative, it aims to boost economic growth and tourism in the Kingdom by hosting a diverse range of events, concerts, attractions, and cultural experiences.
Source: AGBI
