Qiddiya Six Flags Saudi Arabia may just be one of the most ambitious and incredible projects I’ve ever seen as Saudi Arabia looks to establish itself as a worldwide tourist hotspot.
Similar to how Yas Island has completely transformed tourism to Abu Dhabi. Qiddiya is set to do exactly the same as this expansive project of entertainment spaces, a water park, hotels, race track and theme park all combine for a world class destination.
With October 2024 penned in as the opening of Six Flags Qiddiya it is currently unsure as to how complete the rest of the Qiddiya resort will be. The footers are already going in place for one of the major investments for the theme park known as Falcon’s Flight which will be the world’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster in the world.
Intamin are the manufacturers of the ride and currently hold the world record for building the world’s fastest coaster in Formula Rossa at Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi. They’re now set to eclipse their own record and collect two other world records to go with it!
Buildings are already being built and a water park is also being constructed right this very second as part of the billion dollar contract.
Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) announced the award of a SAR 3.75 billion contract, to build Six Flags Qiddiya, to Bouygues Bâtiment International (BBI) – a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction – and Saudi Almabani General Contractors, in a joint venture between the two construction companies.
As the Kingdom’s future capital of Entertainment, Sports and the Arts, visitors to Qiddiya will enjoy a wide spectrum of offerings that include Sports & Wellness; Nature & Environment; Parks & Attractions; Motion & Mobility; and Arts & Culture. Situated on the outskirts of the Saudi capital, Qiddiya is a destination city that is currently under development and when open, will become a disruptive destination that offers innovative experiences in entertainment, sports and arts.
Six Flags Qiddiya will serve to be a key entertainment attraction for Qiddiya and the city of Riyadh. The theme park will cover an area of 320,000 square meters and will feature 28 rides and attractions of which 10 will be thrill rides, with 18 rides designed for families and young children.
All rides and attractions have been designed exclusively for Qiddiya and embody the rich cultural heritage of the location as well as Saudi Arabia.
The theme park will be home to five signature rides that will break ten world records including: Falcons Flight, the world’s tallest, fastest and longest coaster; Sirocco Tower, the world’s tallest, free-standing shot tower ride; Gyrospin, the world’s tallest pendulum ride; Spitfire, the world’s tallest inverted top hat coaster; and Iron Rattler, the world’s tallest tilt coaster.
The rides and attractions at the theme park will be spread across six immersive lands: The City of Thrills, Discovery Springs, Steam Town, Twilight Gardens, Valley of Fortune and Grand Exposition.
The central hub of the park will be the Citadel which will be covered by a billowing canopy form inspired by traditional Bedouin tents. Home to a wide range of cafes and shops, the venue will transform into an interactive show space throughout the day. From here, visitors will find gateways to each of the themed lands.
The City of Thrills
The City of Thrills is the embodiment of Vision 2030: a forward-looking, boundary-pushing, future city anchored in Arabic design motifs.
Here, visitors will find Six Flags Qiddiya’s most recognizable and anticipated thrill rides including the record-breaking Falcons Flight, inspired by the Kingdom’s iconic raptor and the Sirocco Tower.
Discovery Springs
Discovery Springs is an aquatic wonderland of waterfalls, aqueducts and geysers as well as exotic plants and trees. This oasis offers visitors relief from the summer heat by creating the feel of a dense rainforest in the middle of the desert.
It will be home to an interactive ride called the Sea Stallion, where riders are propelled over rivers, behind waterfalls, and through trees along a custom-designed course, as they control the speed and acceleration of their vehicle.
Steam Town
Steam Town is themed around mechanical marvels and a collection of dynamic contraptions. Its signature ride is the Iron Rattler Mine Train which features a hydraulic lift that releases passengers into a freefall plunge through a narrow, steam-filled mineshaft.
Other key attractions include the Steam Town Falls Water Coaster which combines a roller coaster track with a splashing boat ride, a spinning mechanical ride called the Bull Rider and a custom-themed climbing structure called the Treehouse Trek.
Twilight Gardens
Twilight Gardens is an oversized landscape of the imagination filled with colorful flowers and friendly creatures, all exclusively designed for younger visitors and their families.
This enchanted land’s key features include the Twilight Express Coaster, which takes passengers through a majestic garden, the Critter Chase, an interactive dark ride set in a 3D environment, and the Kaleidoscope hot air balloon ride.
Valley of Fortune
Valley of Fortune is an exciting land of adventure that takes place amidst time-worn architectural ruins of old Arabian masonry, enlivened by the activity and trade of fortune seekers from around the world.
This land’s signature attraction is Spitfire, a triple-launch coaster, which will take guests into a sky roll before an acrobatic stall and a breathtaking dive back to the valley floor.
Other attractions include Skywatch, a hydraulic boom ride where riders are lifted into the sky, the auto-themed Treasure Trail, and the Canyon Charters, a family plane ride that swings and rotates freely above the park.
Grand Exposition
Grand Exposition is a celebration of innovation combining the nostalgia of traditional World Expos with the greatest feats of science and technology such as the Gyrospin Pendulum, which swings riders to record heights.
It is also home to Six Flags’ classic and most loved coaster Colossus, a gravity-driven wood-steel hybrid coaster that stretches over an 800-meter track.
The land also features the Arabian Carousel, where Arabian horses march in a circular parade, the Expo Flyer swinging ride and the Roundabout featuring a bumper car attraction themed as London cabs.
If this park comes to fruition It’s going to be incredible. With the 600 billion dollar capital the company behind this project have it’s safe to say it would take a miracle for it to NOT be built.
Fingers crossed this comes to fruition on the scale that has been advertised above and we may just have one of the best theme parks in the world to visit in 2025!
Find out more about the Qiddiya project HERE
