Mall Amusement

Despite a rich historical heritage, Saudi does not have lots of cultural activities going on. There are a few museums here and there, but to get in is a problem, as there are male days and female days and most of the time, you don’t find out which one it is until you try to get in. Movie theaters are totally nonexistent, so no chance on catching the last Hollywood hit either…so the Saudis have devised ways to do activities as a family or more likely ways to entertain the children without parental supervision but under nanny watch.


Every Mall has a play area decorated around a theme, Under the Ocean, Huge Insects, In the Backyard…and we are thinking way more serious that the few climbing toys at Cortana Mall or the single video arcade at Mall of Louisiana. What I’m talking about are full fledge amusement park rides inside a mall. You want to ride the roller coaster, it’s there; the pirate boat, got it; bumper cars, always there; the wild river canoe drive with waterways, check; the parachute up and down ; the rock-wall with complete harness; merry-go-rounds; shooting range; interactive video games; remote control cars competing against each other, a fake moving elephant you ride on. Anything you’ve seen at an amusement park you may/will find in one of the malls in Riyadh.

This phenomenon is not only unique to Saudi Arabia: when we went to Bahrain, we all went to the Wahoo water park, at the City Center Mall. Imagine a two year old Blue Bayou inside a mall, with an outside area on the rooftop. At the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai you can even ski at the world-famous Ski Dubai. At the Dubai Mall, there is a walk-through fish tank, similar to the one at the NOLA Aquarium of the Americas.

So, for lack of better words, a trip to the mall has a different appeal depending on your age: over 20 year olds enjoy the shopping, the teen crowds like the socializing, among the same sex though and the 0-12 year olds are widely attracted to the rides. They make it easy on you and your wallet. Purchase a card, with whatever amount you wish and each time you go on a ride, your card is swiped and a certain amount is debited. The powerful merchandising and food court also use that card. Of course, the more you buy the better deal you get. Buy a 500 Saudi Riyal card (125 US) and you receive one with 1000 SR! Emma has gone with one of her little princess friend who did purchase that huge card and the two of them ended up riding enough rides to use it all up! Two girls and one plastic card…imagine the damage that can be done, on the rides now and later in the shops!