News

$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.

Published

1 year ago

November 27, 2023

Nour Nasir

$347 million saudi entertainment destination seven abha announced

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN)

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 entertainment center kids

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.

News

Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent

According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2024

Nour Nasir

samsung smart glasses teased for january software reveal imminent

Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.

As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.

Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.

Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…

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The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.

A Collaborative Software Effort

Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.

Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.

Feature Set And Compatibility

The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.