“Honestly, this is probably one of the best days of my life,” said 27-year-old James Donaldson, known online as MrBeast, in an interview with Reuters ahead of Thursday’s launch. He conducted at least nine media interviews as part of a PR campaign for the park.
“One of the most common requests I get is, ‘I want to be in a MrBeast video.’ Now, we’ve recreated that experience in real life, where fans can visit and take part themselves,” he added.
Saudi Arabia’s entertainment evolution
Over the last decade, Saudi Arabia has rapidly expanded its entertainment offerings under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative, aiming to diversify the economy beyond oil and modernize society.
Previously, cinemas and concerts were largely banned, leaving limited options for leisure and painting the kingdom as socially conservative. That image is changing.
Riyadh now hosts Riyadh Season, an event running nearly half the year, featuring boxing matches, music festivals, sports competitions, and other live entertainment.
Lit in neon blue, Beast Land merges traditional theme park attractions, such as rollercoasters, with MrBeast’s American Gladiator-style challenges.
In one game, players risk being dropped onto cushioned platforms if they fail to hit a button at the right moment.
Donaldson noted that 701f his audience is international, making Saudi Arabia a natural choice for filming, with ample studio space to produce his latest season of videos.
"I'd say give it a try, it's much more developed than you'd think," he said.
The kingdom has been known to attract international talent with massive compensation: Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr is estimated to be worth more than $200 million.
MrBeast has at times stirred controversy, with Mexico in May filing suit against a firm they say worked with him after he produced a video at the nation's ancient Maya pyramids.