Fresh images show the Qiddiya circuit taking shape near Riyadh, featuring a raised first corner called “The Blade” that will climb as high as 20 storeys. The £360 million project is being built to host the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from 2028, pending FIA homologation and possible schedule changes.
Work on the signature feature is visible in new on-site photos. The Blade will launch cars onto a dramatic rise before dropping back down, creating total lap elevation changes of about 100 to 108 meters. The structure will also pass over a planned concert space inside the venue. The design is meant to deliver a striking view for fans on the ground and a complex challenge for drivers at turn one.
The construction timeline targets completion around 2027, which would allow a debut race in 2028. Project sources accept that the opening could slip to 2029. Until the handover, Formula 1 will remain at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which has staged the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix since 2021. The planned move to Qiddiya aligns with the long-term goal to base the race near the capital and fold it into a wider entertainment hub.
Design summaries credit Hermann Tilke with the circuit concept, with some reports noting input from Alexander Wurz. Early figures point to a lap length of roughly 4.5 km and 21 corners. The layout mixes permanent sections with urban-style features inside Qiddiya City. Simulations suggest top speeds above 330 km/h, which would put the track among the faster venues on the calendar. The opening climb at The Blade, followed by downhill sections, is expected to shape braking zones and energy recovery patterns around the lap.
The site sits within Qiddiya City, part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to develop new tourism and entertainment assets. The circuit is one element of a larger district that will add venues, attractions, and public spaces over time. Parts of the wider project may still be under construction when the track is ready, but the circuit is being advanced on its own timeline to meet Formula 1 requirements.
For the race to take place, the venue must secure FIA Grade 1 homologation. That process tests safety systems, run-off areas, barriers, medical access, and on-site operations. Designers will need to balance speed and spectacle with modern safety standards, especially around the elevated first corner and the sections that cross event spaces. The promoter has also indicated an interest in motorcycle events, which would require separate FIM homologation and its own safety review.
Budgeted at about £360 million, the build includes civil works for elevation, foundations for The Blade, and the blend of permanent and semi-urban infrastructure. The concert space under the opening corner adds a multi-use element to the site plan. That approach mirrors recent trends in race venue design, where circuits aim to host events beyond motorsport to keep the venue active year-round.
The latest images suggest core earthworks and structural preparations are advancing, with the most visible progress around the rising first-corner complex. Engineering teams are shaping the climb and the pathways that will carry spectators and services underneath. Paving, barriers, and final systems will follow once the heavy construction phase sets the track geometry and elevation profiles.
With Jeddah confirmed as the Saudi GP host until the move, the build at Qiddiya can run on its planned schedule. The target remains a 2028 debut for Formula 1, provided the circuit clears homologation and the broader project keeps to its milestones. If the calendar shifts, a 2029 launch remains in play. For now, the sight of The Blade taking form marks the most concrete sign that the Qiddiya circuit is moving from renders to reality.