Saudi Arabia is converting retired offshore oil platforms into The Rig, a vast adventure tourism complex in the Arabian Gulf that blends hotels, extreme sports and industrial heritage. Olivia Palamountain reports

Saudi Arabia is leveraging its petroleum heritage by turning a cluster of decommissioned oil platforms into an offshore adventure tourism complex called The Rig.

Sitting 40 kilometres off the kingdom’s eastern coast, the development brings new life to structures once used for oil and gas production by adapting them into a huge entertainment and hospitality site in the Arabian Gulf.

The Rig will sprawl across more than 300,000 square metres of offshore platforms near Juraid Island and Berri Oil Field, combining repurposed rigs with newly built structures to create what developers are calling a "one-of-a-kind" hospitality and adventure experience.The innovative complex will feature three hotels totalling 800 rooms, 11 restaurants, retail shops and 72 entertainment attractions ranging from water sports centres and diving facilities to an extreme sports park, amusement rides, cinema, multi-purpose arena and e-sports centre.

 Developers are targeting 900,000 annual visitors by 2032, with peak daily capacity reaching 10,000 guests during high season.

Access will be provided through terminals in Dammam and Jubail Industrial City, with visitors transported via fast ferries, helicopters and seaplanes. Private yachts can dock directly, while cruise ships will anchor nearby with tenders shuttling passengers to the platforms.The visitor profile is likely to be regional, with projections suggesting that people from Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council will make up 70% of arrivals. This positions The Rig as a short-break destination for those based within easy reach of the Gulf coast.

Developers say environmental protection is a priority and that the project is being built to international standards. These include measures to limit ecological disturbance, create opportunities for eco-experiences and support nearby communities. The aim is to repurpose existing structures while managing the offshore setting in a way that reduces harm and supports long-term stewardship of the area.

By using retired platforms for leisure rather than extraction, The Rig shows how former industrial spaces can take on new roles within Saudi Arabia’s wider tourism plans. The project brings together engineering, hospitality and adventure sport in a way that reflects the country’s shift towards new visitor experiences beyond the mainland.