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Saudi Arabia aims for a place in the global ‘big leagues’ of theme parks with plans for massive Six Flags-supported entertainment park funded by the UK government – as it prepares to launch tourist visas for foreigners Saudi Arabia is to open one of world’s biggest theme parks – with a UK-backed project near Riyadh Six Flags Qiddiya City will cover nearly 80 acres and feature 28 rides and attractions including the world’s fastest roller coaster By Simon Holmes In Riyadh For Mailonline Published: 10:58 EDT, 18 September 2019 | Updated: 11:45 EDT, 18 September 2019 Saudi Arabia is set to get a major new tourist attraction designed to tap into its heritage. Just 45 kilometers from Riyadh will be Qiddiya City, a new tourism and leisure destination, with cutting-edge experiences and innovative design concepts that will put record-breaking rides next door to thrilling cultures and lands. Among the park’s most widely anticipated features is Falcons Flight, a roller coaster that says it will set three world records, as the tallest, fastest and longest.

Falcons Flight roller coaster will be a main attraction in Six Flags Qiddiya City. billed by some early riders as one that sounds “like a fighter jet,” falcons flight is poised to take amusement park goers on an experience that few have ever experienced. The brainchild of famed Intamin, the company behind some of the world’s best steel roller coasters, Falcons Flight will redefine what a roller coaster can be.

It’s going to be one heck of a ride—and it’s poised to shatter some records along the way. It is to be the highest, fastest and longest roller coaster in the world and will undoubtedly take the breath away from its riders. With those high-speed drops and pops of airtime, coupled with the sharp bends and impressive inversions, Falcons Flight promises to be a signature attraction at Six Flags Qiddiya. Its design is one part of Saudi Arabia’s larger ambition to establish a world-class entertainment centre where people travel from around the world to experience thrill rides that rival those of some of the world’s best-known parks.

Alongside Falcon’s Flight, there will be several other world record-breaking rides at Six Flags Qiddiya City. One such ride is Sirocco Tower, the world’s tallest, free-standing shot tower. “The ride will accelerate faster than a jumbo jet and reach a speed of 82mph as it sprints into the air, before plummeting back down to the ground,” reports Wales Online.

Another star attraction is the Gyrospin, which will be the tallest pendulum ride in the world. Visitors will be launched in the air to experience unimaginable and breathtaking moments as they swing higher and higher in the sky with a full view of the park and desert landscape. These record-smashing rides and Falcons Flight will make Six Flags Qiddiya a thrillist’s paradise.

Six Flags Qiddiya is guaranteed to break many ride records and will boast six themed lands with new attractions, and we hear that each zone will have different rides and features. They will be designed as places to get lost, where people fall into another world and story, offering something for every type of visitor.

Steam Town: A themed zone of the industrial revolution – experience the energy and the thrill of the steampunk inspired attractions and rides. Steam Town will be a cocktail of antique technology and the most modern of aesthetics, providing an environment unlike any other.

Twilight Gardens: A magical fantasy realm that will take visitors into a storybook’s enchanted garden, featuring otherworldly creatures, incredible visual elements, and breathtaking displays. The area will offer an enchanting experience for all ages.

Discovery Springs: Inspired by its name, this land, which is dedicated to water, will be home to water thrill rides as well as tranquil waterfalls and rivers. “It’s going to be the ideal place to cool down and get in a little exploration within the surroundings of a theme park.”

City Thrills: Breathtaking, high octane rush that will take your players to the edge of their seats. The centre piece of the park’s high-octane adventures City Thrills, this is the ultimate fast-moving attraction!

Valley of Fortune: An adventurous treasure-hunting land inviting visitors on unexpected and jolly journeys. This section will be dedicated to rides and experiences that are enthralling and inquisitive, catering for people who are looking for adventure and new wonder to seek out.

Grand Exposition: The place to experience the grand and daring of our hot, flat world, this land will be home to big adventures, big thrills and other big stuff, including “big” surprises for our guests.

Adjacent to Six Flags Qiddiya, Aquarabia is set to be another significant addition to Qiddiya City’s entertainment offering. Boasting exciting 22 water rides, Aquarabia, which includes the –tallest of its kind in the world- water coaster, is set to be one of the best water parks in world. A feature of Aquarabia will be Saudi Arabia’s first surf pool where trouble-free waves can be caught by visitors.

The concept for Aquarabia is to mix fun and chill factor with and include high-adrenalin rides and more leisurely experiences for all ages. Featuring a numbers of unique water experiences, the park is poised to become a favourite family and water sport destination.

Six Flags Qiddiya is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an ambitious campaign to diversify the country’s economy and make it one of the world’s premier tourism destinations. This work is a major shot in the arm for the tourism sector in this country which will create up jobs and bring over foreign visitors and pump money back into the economy. The park is a statement to creativity and engineering marrying new-age technology with old school theme park fun.

Additionally, Six Flags Qiddiya City will be constructed from the ground up with sustainability in mind, to operate in a sustainable environmentally friendly manner. The park will also be built to environmentally-friendly standards that are green and sustainable, and will recycle waste and use alternative energy sources as a priority where feasible. This investment in sustainability will enable the park to continue to offer world class experiences at the lowest impact on the environment.

The news comes nearly a year after the Saudi and UK government announced a collaboration to support the creation of this world-class infrastructure. The UK’s support consists of a contribution through an Islamic Murabaha facility that will support construction of the park.

The UK participation in the project is part of the nation’s effort to reinforce commercial ties with the Saudi Kingdom, the UK will share expertise in engineering, designing and construction to realise the ambitious dream of Six Flags Qiddiya.

Six Flags Qiddiya City will open later thisyear-the first in a line-up of new-world entities set to open in Saudi Arabia-the largest Middle East market. With original rides, themed lands, and some of the world’s best attractions, the park should be a world leader in tourism, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe. Whether you are looking for an adrenaline rush on Falcons Flight, or a day of fun at Aquarabia, there will be something for everyone at Six Flags Qiddiya.

With the development underway of Qiddiya City, it is evident that not only is Saudi Arabia going to change the face of tourism opportunities, it is stepping into a global role in theme parks and entertainment. “Backed by this international partnering and world-class alliance, Six Flags Qiddiya is not only going to push the boundaries of Giga Coasters, but also strengthen the future of recreation and entertainment in the Kingdom.”