Inside Saudi Arabia's new Six Flags Qiddiya City theme park

Sign up to our newsletters

Stay informed with the
latest news and analysis

REGISTER

عربي

You are viewing 1 of your 2 free articles

Six Flags Qiddiya City has 28 rides and attractions

Saudi Arabia is gearing up to unveil its largest theme park, Six Flags Qiddiya City, on 31 December 2025, marking the first Six Flags destination outside North America, with ticket sales now live. Designed to push the boundaries of thrill and innovation, the park will debut with multiple world records, including the most ambitious rollercoaster ever built.

Ahead of the opening, more than 600 international travel trade professionals and Saudi suppliers in Riyadh for the Connections Saudi event were among the first to experience the park, enjoying selected rides, guided tours and live entertainment.

Set against the dramatic cliffs of the Tuwaiq Mountains, a 40-minute drive from Riyadh, Qiddiya City stands as a landmark attraction within Qiddiya City, promoted as the world’s first destination built entirely on the ‘Power of Play’.

Saudi Connection attendees visiting Six Flags Qiddiya City prior to opening

“Play is a tremendous growth strategy and we think Qiddiya City is going to shape the next generation of destinations,” said Ross McCauley, Managing Director of Qiddiya City, speaking at the Connections Saudi event. Once complete, the wider destination will span an area three times the size of Paris, encompassing 400 attractions, 12 theme parks, 43 sports facilities and the world’s first elevated racetrack. It is expected to contribute SAR135 billion annually to Saudi’s GDP.

Thrills, rides and world records

Spanning more than 320,000 square metres – the size of 45 football pitches – Six Flags Qiddiya City will feature six themed zones anchored by The Citadel, a lively central hub with dining, retail and entertainment. Guests can explore 28 rides and attractions, including 10 thrill rides, 18 family experiences and five record-breaking adventures.

The park is home to the world's tallest, longest and fastest rollercoaster

Among the most anticipated is Falcon’s Flight, confirmed as the world’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster. Reaching speeds of 250km/h along a 4,325-metre track – five times the length of Burj Khalifa – it soars to a height of 190 metres, matching a 60-storey building.

Other highlights include the Iron Rattler, the world’s tallest tilt coaster; Spitfire, the highest inverted coaster; Gyrospin, the tallest pendulum ride; and Sirocco Tower, the tallest free-standing shot tower, plunging 145 metres – taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Balancing the high-octane rides are family attractions such as an Arabian Carousel, an aquatic playground and Flying Sea Stallion, the tallest and fastest rider-controlled coaster in the world. The park is also located next door to the Middle East’s largest themed waterpark, Aquarabia, with 22 attractions and five signature rides, including the world’s tallest AquaLoop slide and Saudi Arabia’s first surf pool.

Saudi Arabia visitor numbers rise to more than 60.9 million in H1 2025

Why Diriyah is set to be Saudi’s next tourism hotspot

Guests can also look forward to 29 dining outlets ranging from quick-service concepts to international restaurants showcasing Middle Eastern, Pan-Asian and Indian cuisines, plus 25 retail outlets.

Tickets are priced starting SAR275, inclusive of all rides, with a GoFast pass option, plus combined tickets with Aquarabia water park set to launch.

Aquarabia is the Middle East's largest themed water park

A city built for play

As the first major opening within Qiddiya City, Six Flags is only the beginning. The full development spans around 360 square kilometres, a footprint comparable to Orlando, and brings together theme parks, sports venues, residential communities, retail promenades and more than 400 dining and shopping outlets. Highlights include a Nick Faldo-designed golf course, a dedicated gaming and esports district, and a future performing arts centre.

On the events front, Prince Mohammed Stadium — a 46,000-seat venue perched on a mountainside overlooking the park — will host international concerts and sporting fixtures during the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Close by, Speed Park Track is set to introduce a 21-corner racing circuit featuring a dramatic turn raised 70 metres above ground — another world first.

Sustainability is integral to the project. Six Flags Qiddiya City is targeting over 80% waste diversion from landfill during construction, with eco-focused features such as energy-efficient wheel-cooling systems and Falcon’s Flight’s aerodynamic windshields, which reduce the need for disposable goggles.

Describing the destination as a place to help people live more “fulfilled, connected and joyful lives”, MacCauley believes destinations that rely on sightseeing alone will become more obsolete in the next decade, while “destinations with experience and play at their core will thrive”.

For more information, visit connectionsluxury.com/saudi-2025 and sixflagsqiddiyacity.com