Incoming: Six Flags Qiddiya is coming by sooner than you think
Six Flags Qiddiya will feature six immersive lands with 28 rides and attractions, including the world’s longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster…
Thrill-seekers will soon have a new paradise destination to travel to – Six Flags Qiddiya.
Head of entertainment department at 6 Flags:
We aim to launch the 6 Flags Park project in #Qiddiyah ????
in October 2024 and we will soon announce the official opening date and the business is moving very quickly pic.twitter.com/oleEHJFocB— ﮼ابوخالد (@AzeezLazez) May 30, 2023
Situated on the outskirts of Riyadh, Qiddiya is one of Saudi Arabia’s Giga projects, which is currently under development and set to open its doors by October 2024 per the latest announcement.
The 320,000-square-metre Six Flags Qiddiya, set against the Tuwaiq mountain range, will be the largest and most heavily themed Six Flags yet and is expected to open in 2023. A ground-breaking inauguration has just taken place to mark the official start of construction.
Larger than Walt Disney World, Six Flags Qiddiya will serve to be a key entertainment attraction for Qiddiya and the city of Riyadh. The theme park will feature 28 rides and attractions, of which 10 will be thrill rides, with 18 rides designed for families and young children.
So, what can we expect from this exciting new theme park?
All rides and attractions have been designed exclusively for Qiddiya and embody the rich cultural heritage of the location and Saudi Arabia.
The theme park will be home to five signature rides that will break world records. It includes 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.
Citadel
The park’s central hub 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.
City of Thrills
An embodiment of Vision 2030, this area is a forward-looking, boundary-pushing, future city anchored in Arabic design motifs. Here, visitors will find Six Flags Qiddiya’s most recognisable and anticipated thrill rides, including the record-breaking Falcons Flight, inspired by the Kingdom’s iconic raptor and the Sirocco Tower.
Discovery Springs
Welcome to 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 dense rainforest in the middle of the desert. In addition, 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
This area is themed around mechanical marvels and a collection of dynamic contraptions. Its signature ride is the Iron Rattler Mine Train, 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
An oversized landscape of the imagination filled with colourful 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
This exciting land of adventure takes place amidst time-worn architectural ruins of old Arabian masonry, enlivened by the activity and trade of fortune seekers from around the world. Its signature attraction is Spitfire, a triple-launch coaster, which will take guests into a sky roll before an acrobatic stall and a breath-taking 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
This themed land is a celebration of innovation combining the nostalgia of traditional World Expos with the most remarkable 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-metre 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.
Abdullah Aldawood, board member and managing director of Qiddiya Investment Company, commented, “We are embarking on major steps towards building the Kingdom’s future destination for Entertainment, Sports and the Arts. We are pleased to collaborate with leading construction companies, like Bouygues Bâtiment International, and we look forward to building Six Flags Qiddiya together, delivering a world-class theme park with several exciting new ride concepts. Six Flags Qiddiya will be a key entertainment attraction for Riyadh, the Kingdom and the world at large.”
Images: Qiddiya.com