DOHA, Nov. 20 -- The groundbreaking ceremony for Land of Legends Qatar took place on Wednesday, marking the launch of a landmark development set to become one of the largest theme parks in the Middle East and North Africa region.

"The Land of Legends project is a key component of Qatar's strategy to diversify its national economy, offering an exceptional experience that will contribute to attracting investments and advancing the tourism sector," said Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Qatar's Minister of Municipality and Chairman of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, at the ceremony.

Land of Legends Qatar will span over 650,000 square meters and feature seven themed zones. It is expected to attract 2 million visitors annually, the statement said.

The development is the first major project within the Simaisma Project, which covers over 8 million square meters and stretches along a 7-km beach 30 km north of Doha.

The project is a partnership between the Türkiye-headquartered FTG Development and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.

Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company was established in 2005 by the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar.

  - Xinhua