World-renowned YouTube influencer MrBeast, who commands over 450 million subscribers across his platforms, officially opened a temporary amusement park in Riyadh on Thursday. Consequently, he joins a growing list of celebrities drawn to Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding entertainment sector, which aims for regional leadership.
Named “Beast Land,” the park welcomes visitors from 13 November to 27 December, showcasing obstacle course-like challenges from his channel. Furthermore, these physical attractions closely resemble the popular contests from his videos where participants often compete for substantial cash prizes.
The innovative pop-up park forms a key component of Riyadh Season, a massive annual festival promoting the capital as a prime tourist destination. Specifically, Saudi Arabia utilizes such high-profile events to attract global celebrities and thus diversify its economy away from traditional oil dependence.
He explained to AFP in Riyadh, “The majority of our audience lives outside of North America, and we have a large concentration of viewers who watch our videos throughout the Middle East.” He added, “Often, we produce content and events in the West or other regions, and I really wanted to create something fun specifically for our dedicated fans who live here.”
Youth Appeal and Digital Reach
The influencer previously posted a video at the new park’s entrance gates in Riyadh, which are shaped like a fierce blue tiger’s head. Notably, flashing lightning bolts serve as the eyes, strongly resembling his distinctive brand logo while neon lights illuminate the various attractions. In the clip, he stated, “This project represents the craziest thing that I’ve ever attempted, and I cannot wait for everyone to experience it firsthand.”
Jimmy Donaldson, the 27-year-old influencer known as MrBeast, now commands more followers across his platforms than the entire population of the United States. Therefore, he successfully built this immense digital empire through a prodigious content output constantly featuring engaging contests and exciting challenges.
Crucially, more than 75% of Saudi citizens are under 35 years of age, making the kingdom a perfect engagement ground for global influencers like MrBeast. Consequently, young people overwhelmingly consume his content, which aligns perfectly with the kingdom’s young demographic profile.
According to PwC, smartphone market penetration in the kingdom exceeds 98%, while internet penetration approaches 98 percent. Indeed, both figures significantly surpass the current global average, showcasing a highly connected population. Moreover, the consultancy further reports that Saudis consistently rank among the most avid media consumers globally.
Economic Goals and Future Investments
In 2023, Time magazine recognized MrBeast as one of the world’s most influential people, while Forbes estimated his net worth at around half a billion dollars, highlighting his impact on the digital landscape.
Significantly, Saudi Arabia actively develops numerous leisure and entertainment attractions, including the massive Qiddiya project near Riyadh, which will ultimately feature an entire “entertainment city,” complete with theme parks and a world-class motorsports racetrack.
