RIYADH: Seven edutainment theme parks are planned across the Kingdom to provide children with a safe, unique and realistic educational environment.

The first park of the $133-million project is expected to be ready in Riyadh in 2017. The entire project, which will take about ten years, will ensure children learn while having fun.

The idea behind the parks is to develop a small-scale city built for and ruled by children aged between two years and 14 years.

The miniature city will have its own economy and even use a different currency called “kidlar,” short form for kids dollar, a popular international currency, as the edutainment city is meant exclusively for children.

Working toward this end is Abdul Rahman Saad Al-Rashid and Sons, an established business set up of a firmly Saudi entity with global vision. The first such theme park will be opened by the first quarter of 2017 in Riyadh, said an official from the business group.

The franchise agreement was signed recently by Suleiman Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, CEO of Abdul Rahman Saad Al-Rashid and Sons, and Ali Kazma, chairman of Kidz Holding and founder of the KidzMondo concept.

The project is driven by pedagogical fascination, focusing on academic benefits for children as well as complementing school curricula.

KidzMondo provides children with a relevant and tangible learning experience, appealing to the need to address and encourage interest, where children will be exposed to age-appropriate activities in a dynamic and safe surrounding, featuring a miniature-sized city replicated from the real world.

Children will be attracted to go through different establishments, while providing them with a mental and physical voyage of investigation, exploration and adults’ role play.

KidzMondo has theme parks in several countries, including Lebanon, Turkey and the UAE.