RIYADH, May 14 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia plans to merge

the company behind its Qiddiya desert mega leisure development

with entertainment business SEVEN, Qiddiya said on Tuesday in

what sources told Reuters was a move to get the

multi-billion-dollar project back on track.

Delays have beset the kingdom's efforts to open up the

economy and ease tight social restrictions, with Qiddiya years

behind schedule.

The merger is designed to ensure the multi-billion-dollar

scheme which includes a massive sports stadium for World Cup

2034 is ready to open its gates in time to welcome millions of

fans to the world's biggest sporting event, said one of the

sources.