New Satellite Images Show Progress Building World's Biggest Roller Coaster
The Qiddiya Six Flags project highlights another example of how the kingdom is racing to meet its economic and developmental targets beyond oil under Vision 2030, the transformation plan launched nearly a decade ago by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
Several of those massive projects have faced delays, budget overruns and questions from human rights groups, including the crown prince's flagship Neom project, currently the world's largest construction site.
Qiddiya City is located in the Tuwaiq Mountains, about 28 miles from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital. The Six Flags amusement park is set to feature the world's tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster - Falcons Flight - reaching 640 feet and speeds of 155 mph.
The city will also include Acquarabia water park and extreme watersports zone, as well as the world's first themed anime series park.
According to Qiddiya Investment Company's (QIC) website, construction at Six Flags and Aquarabia is now over 80 percent. The park will span more than 2.5 million square feet and feature over 20 rides and attractions.
In 2018, The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns QIC, signed a licensing and development agreement with Six Flags to build the U.S.‑branded theme park. In February, Qiddiya company announced Six Flags Entertainment Corporation as the amusement park's official operator.
The Maryland-based Six Flags America will permanently close on November 2.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, the Walt Disney Company announced that it is expanding its global theme park empire with a resort coming to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Jason Freeman, Senior Vice President Corporate Operations & Guest Services at Six Flags said in June: 'Those are the Falcons Flight, which is going to be the world's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster. We have the world's tallest pendulum ride. We have the world's tallest drop tower. We have the world's tallest inverted top hat roller coaster. And we have the world's tallest till coaster.'
The company is now publicly advertising for its amusement park which it says is planned for opening later this year.
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