Amusement Today, NOVEMBER II 2024

Six Flags Qiddiya City rises, moving rapidly closer to completion

AT: Tim Baldwin

RIYADH PROVINCE, Saudi Arabia — When Qiddiya City, just outside Riyadh to the west, was announced in 2017, it was part of Saudi Vision 2030. This government program’s mission is to diversify the region’s economy, as well as make an impact socially and culturally, eventually reducing the dependancy on oil.

Qiddiya City’s attractions are bold and world-class. When plans were announced for Six Flags Qiddiya City, it almost seemed so beyond belief that many industry insiders wondered if such grand plans could ever come to pass.

Well, they are.

As with any plans that overlapped the global crisis owing to the COVID pandemic, things have stretched further than envisioned, but progress has been made. In fact, construction has reached spectacular levels, which is only building excitement for what the final product will bring. No official target date has been set for opening, but sometime in 2025 is expected.

Six Flags Qiddiya City is being built by a joint venture between Bouygues Batiment international and Almabani General Contractors. The park is 320,000 square meters (3,444,450 square feet).

The Six Flags brand is known worldwide, so having the name on the park gives it some notable prestige. But investors didn’t just ease into it; they have swung for the fences with some record-breaking rides.

Among the 28 attractions are an impressive eight roller coasters. The mix of family rides (18) and thrill rides (10) will provide fun for every visitor. Working with numerous industry suppliers, the theme park gives a shot in the arm to numerous companies that were emerging from the pandemic.

Guests enter the park into the Citadel, a canopy-draped plaza that serves as a portal to the six themed lands. While no rides will be in the Citadel, it will offer night shows, food outlets and shopping opportunities.

Among the lands is Discovery Springs, an area that combines the tranquil beauty of a coral wonderland with the enjoyment of water. Six attractions find their home in this land. Sea Stallion will be the largest and fastest rider-controlled roller coaster (Spike system) from Maurer Rides. Its path will journey behind waterfalls and over rivers. WhiteWater West has supplied Zoomaflooma, a 43-foot-tall flume ride. The six-minute journey will tell a story of the Nahari and their efforts to conserve and protect the water surrounding the land. Zamperla provides two rides in this area, Big Splash and Water Wheel. The former is a Big Wavez 15-meter (50-foot) splash ride that drops 20 riders at a time. Water Wheel is an interactive shooting ride that lets passengers aim at targets and other people. Triotech is the creator of Into the Deep, an interactive dark ride through mysterious caves. Rounding out the area is Aquatopia, a water playground for young children.

Steam Town has a steampunk vibe that merges the past with the future. The area boasts five attractions, one being a record-breaker. Iron Rattler, one of three roller coasters supplied by Vekoma, will be the world’s tallest tilt coaster, standing 63 meters (208 feet) tall. Mack Rides supplies Saw Mill Falls, a combination roller coaster/water ride. Flat rides from Moser (Steel Stampede) and Zamperla (Sprockenator, a popular NebulaZ) provide some spinning action. Adventure Junction is a play area for kids in this area.

Twilight Gardens lowers the thrill quota with enchantment in its place. Announced at IAAPA Expo Europe, Joravision, partnering with Alterface and ETF, bring The Enchanted Greenhouse to life. Riders awaken creatures inside with a “magical dew sprayer.” Six-passenger vehicles travel through the ride. Vekoma’s second coaster, Twilight Express is geared toward the families. Amirat Al Buhayra, an interactive water-play boat ride from Mack Rides, lets passengers squirt at creatures and avoid being squirted back. Zamperla also provides a balloon ride in this area.

Valley of Fortune is steeped in mystery surrounding buried treasure and secret discoveries. The star attraction is the record-breaking Spitfire from Intamin. This triple-launch coaster features the world’s tallest upside-down top hat element on a coaster — 240 feet. Skywatch, also from Intamin, is a 99-passenger observation platform on a raised arm. Zamperla provides another flat ride in this area with Canyon Charters. Treasure Trail by P&B is a jeep ride that lets families drive through an off-road adventure with surprises around every turn.

Grand Exposition is a land where history and innovation collide, pulling from the spirit of World’s Fairs from the past. Dominating the landscape is Colossus, a wooden coaster from Great Coasters International, Inc. Airtime and directional changes will delight all riders as they roar over and through this 29-meter (95-foot-tall) beast. Gyrospin from Zamperla is a record-setting thriller, being the tallest pendulum attraction of its type. Zamperla also provided the bumper cars, Roundabout, in this land, as well as Expo Flyer, a spinning flat ride themed with Asian art. The Arabian Carousel from P&B fits in nicely with the exposition theme.

City of Thrills, is (as Six Flags terms it) a “heart-pounding metropolis where adrenaline junkies unite.” Sirocco Tower from S&S Worldwide is the world’s tallest freestanding tower ride. Standing 475 feet tall, riders have a ride height of 120 meters (almost 400 feet). While square in configuration like most S&S towers, each side is 32 feet wide, with eight riders on each side. The four carts are not launched together but in pairs. A surprise awaits guests as the ride begins as well. Adrena-Line is the third Vekoma coaster at the park, this one is a high-speed suspended coaster. Windrider, a WindstarZ from Zamperla, offers a fun flat ride themed to the Falcon Industries storyline. And above all else is Falcons Flight. Capturing the attention of the world, this Intamin spectacular is the longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster on the planet. Once it opens, it will travel to heights of 193 meters (640 feet — with a 519-foot drop), race over 4,325 meters (13,943 feet) of track and reach speeds of 250 km/h (155 mph). The world will be watching. Windshields are placed on the front of each car. Because of its speed, innovative energy-efficient cooling technology will be used on the wheels.

During its construction, the park plans to divert more than 80 percent of construction waste away from landfills.

Six Flags Qiddiya City will be the first attraction to open in the entertainment and sports district. It is the only Six Flags park outside of North America.

“Six Flags Qiddiya City marks a transformative milestone for the entertainment industry in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region,” said Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia Park President Brian Machamer. “Standing as the first Six Flags outside of North America built from the ground up, the park will offer visitors of all ages an unparalleled world-class experience. With millions of visitors expected a year, Qiddiya City will be a unique destination like no other on the planet where families and thrill seekers can create and share unforgettable memories.”