Is het een luchtkasteel? Een fata morgana? Of staat er straks in de woestijn van Saoedi-Arabië daadwerkelijk de hoogste, snelste en langste achtbaan ter wereld?

Het Algemeen Dagblad schrijft:

Er zullen ‘authentieke thema’s die samengaan met de regio’ worden gebruikt, aldus de Saudi Gazette. ,,Dit zal het meest unieke Six Flags themapark zijn dat ooit gebouwd is’’, voegt David McKillips, de president van de Six Flags International Development Company eraan toe.

Verwacht wordt dat het park in 2023 opengaat. De Falcon’s Flight zal het kroonjuweel worden van het park, dat in een vallei op zo’n 60 kilometer buiten Riyad gebouwd zal worden.

De huidige wereldrecordhouder in achtbaanland is de Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi, die een snelheid tot 240 kilometer per uur in vijf seconden kan halen. De hoogte, snelheid en lengte van de nog te bouwen Falcon’s Flight, die geïnspireerd is op de iconische roofvogel die in het Midden-Oosten erg populair is om mee te jagen, is nog niet bekend.
bron: AD.nl

In de press-release van Qiddiya staat het volgende:

Six Flags Qiddiya will cover 32 hectares (79 acres) and feature 28 rides and attractions across the six lands: The City of Thrills, Discovery Springs, Steam Town, Twilight Gardens, Valley of Fortune and Grand Exposition.

The Citadel is the central hub of the park. It is covered by a billowing canopy form inspired by traditional Bedouin tents. It holds a variety of shops and cafes and transforms into an interactive show space throughout the day. From here guests can pass through gateways to enter each of the themed lands.

The City of Thrills is the embodiment of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: a forward-looking, boundary-pushing, future city anchored in Arabic design motifs. Here visitors will find Six Flags Qiddiya’s most recognizable and anticipated thrill rides. The Falcon’s Flight, inspired by the Kingdom’s iconic raptor, will be the longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, while the Sirocco Tower will break more records with the world’s tallest drop-tower ride.

Discovery Springs reflects Qiddiya’s unique and timeless relationship between the desert and the sea as its collection of rides and experiences play with elements of earth and water. It is 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 a dense rainforest in the middle of the desert. Visitors to Discovery Springs will discover a first-of-its-kind 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 horse.

Steam Town is where the past and future collide in a rugged frontier town that is powered by steam and echoes with screams. Themed around mechanical marvels and a collection of dynamic contraptions, the land’s signature ride is the Iron Rattler Mine Train. On this ride the best elements of a roller coaster are linked with a dark ride to create a hydraulic lift which releases passengers into a freefall plunge through a narrow, steam-filled mineshaft. Other key features of Steam Town include the Sawmill 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 is an oversized landscape of the imagination filled with colorful flowers and friendly creatures, all specially 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 is an exciting land of adventure that takes place amidst time-worn architectural ruins of old Arabian masonry, enlivened by the activity and trade of fortune seekers from around the world. This land’s signature attraction is Spitfire, a triple-launch coaster, which will take guests into a sky roll before an acrobatic stall and a breathtaking dive back to the valley floor. Other features of Valley of Fortune include Skywatch, a hydraulic boom ride where riders are lifted into the sky, the auto-themed Treasure Trail and the Aeromax, a family plane ride that swings and rotates freely over the park.

Grand Exposition is a celebration of innovation combining the nostalgia of traditional carnival midways with the greatest 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 roller 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 Automania, with bumper car attractions themed as London cabs.

With an incredible mix of rides and attractions throughout six unique lands, Six Flags Qiddiya is set to become the theme park that breaks all records for family fun and entertainment in the Kingdom.

The City of Thrills

Discovery Springs

Steam Town

Twilight Gardens

Het masterplan voor het park

Stevige plannen! Wat denken jullie, zijn het ook realistische plannen? Ik heb er m'n vraagtekens nog bij hoor, is dit niet het zoveelste luchtkasteel in het middenoosten? Zien we hier straks dezelfde overweldigende bezoekersaantallen als in Abu Dhabi/Dubai (sarcasme)?