Just Stop Oil has slammed plans for a new attraction in Saudi Arabia based on an old oil rig.
The attraction, named The Rig, was announced last week and consists of decommissioned and newly built platforms, whose concept and model are inspired by offshore oil platforms.
It was announced the attraction spans an area of more than 300,000 square meters, located 40 km from the coastline near Juraid Island and Berri Oil Field in the Arabian Gulf.
The attraction is being developed by Oil Park Development Company (OPDC), a company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, who took over Newcastle United FC in 2021.
The attraction is set to be built on decommissioned and newly built platforms
Handout
Now the campaign group Just Stop Oil has criticised the announcement, saying the Saudis are "mocking us".
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson told GB News: "Given the UK government's utterly irresponsible intention to max out on North Sea gas & oil whilst claiming to be a world leader on addressing the climate emergency, it's not surprising any country is mocking us.
"The whole world, including the Saudis, needs to stop all new oil and gas, invest hugely in renewables & consign these ugly stranded assets to the history books."
GB News has contacted The Rig for a comment in response to Just Stop Oil's comments.
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An artist's rendition of one of the guest rooms
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The attraction claims that it will feature three hotels totalling 800 rooms, along with 11 restaurants, an extreme sports & adventure park. There is also set to be a diving centre, in addition to an amusement park, splash park, an E-sports centre, an immersive theatre and multi-purpose arena.
An opening date for the attraction has not been announced. However, the project says it aims to attract over 900,000 annual visitors by 2032. Visitors are set to be able to travel to the attraction via seaplane, helicopter or ferry.
It comes as the Saudi government aims to move away from its reliance on oil and become a tourist and commerce hotspot. Last year, the state announced Qiddiya a multibillion-dollar destination in Riyad set to include theme parks, water parks, a sports city, as well as the world's tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster, Flacon's Flight.
However, the government has come under criticism for alleged abuse of human rights. This includes the $500billion Neom project where tribes were shoved out of their homeland, imprisoned or executed.
The Rig attraction in the Arabian Gulf
The Rig
The country's wider plans, known as Vision 2030, aim to build a post-oil economy.
It comes as plans to open the first alcohol store in the capital Riyadh were unveiled. The store will serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats. Customers will have to register via a mobile app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases, said the document.
The Saudi Center of International Communication (CIC) said new regulations imposing restrictions on alcohol imports within diplomatic consignments had been introduced to counter the illicit trade of alcohol goods and products received by diplomatic missions.
A statement did not address the planned alcohol store but said the new framework respected international diplomatic conventions.
