Snow City adds spice to life in Riyadh

COOL: Women play with snow at the indoor "Snow City" in the Al-Othaim Mall in the capital. (AFP)

RIYADH: At a shopping mall in southern Riyadh, a woman in abaya throws snowballs at her young son. The boy gleefully lobs snowy projectiles back in her direction.
Nearby, children in neon snow suits stand squealing under a spray of ice droplets. Others trudge up a snowy hill with parents, before cascading down ice slides in inflatable tubes.
"It's freezing," one little girl exclaims, teeth chattering, even as temperatures outside exceed 45 Celsius.
There is no music to drown out the drone of air conditioners inside the Snow City theme park in the capital. But the new attraction is an opportunity for Saudis of all stripes to blow off steam.
"It's awesome that this is allowed for us," said Bedour, a bubbly 19-year-old in a colorful snowsuit. "Women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear abayas whenever they're outside. In here, it's different."
Entertainment offerings and physical activities are severely limited in the Kingdom, especially during the withering summer months, something reformers led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are trying to change as part of a wide-ranging program to transform the Saudi economy and society.
The Vision 2030 plan, announced in April, pledged new cultural venues, entertainment partnerships, tourist attractions and athletic clubs, hoping they will invigorate the private sector and inspire Saudis to lead healthier lifestyles.
It wants culture and entertainment to absorb 6 percent of Saudi household spending by 2030, up from 2.9 percent now.
Theme parks exist, but unlike Snow City are mostly subject to gender-based timings to prevent mixing of unrelated men and women.
Many Saudis descend on nearby Gulf states, where water parks and indoor skiing have been available for years.
"We used to have to go to Dubai in order to play in the snow. Once this snow city started up, people started coming here ... It's attracting tourists. Thank God," said Nawal, 20.
The Snow City is a private venture by Al-Othaim Leisure & Tourism Company, but it has the blessing of the government. Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar inaugurated the facility.
Some 1,500 people visit daily, said a manager. "People are having fun," he said. "So let's do it, let's try it."
— REUTERS