Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City to open Six Flags theme park in December 

The park — the first Six Flags outside North America — forms part of Qiddiya Investment Co.’s flagship development on the outskirts of Riyadh. SPA
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Updated 16 November 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City to open Six Flags theme park in December 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will open its first Six Flags theme park on Dec. 31, 2025, as Qiddiya City accelerates efforts to position itself as a major regional hub for entertainment, sports, and culture.   

The park — the first Six Flags outside North America — forms part of Qiddiya Investment Co.’s flagship development on the outskirts of Riyadh. Located in the Tuwaiq Mountains about 40 minutes from the capital, Qiddiya City is being marketed as a master-planned destination built around the company’s “Power of Play” strategy, according to the Saudi Press Agency. 

Qiddiya is central to Saudi Arabia’s transformation strategy under Vision 2030, with the Kingdom targeting up to 150 million visitors annually by 2030 as the nation moves beyond oil-led growth. 

Brian Machamer, president of Six Flags Qiddiya City, said: “Six Flags Qiddiya City not only opens its door to the public for the first time, it starts to showcase everything Qiddiya City stands for: bold imagination, unforgettable experiences, and a new benchmark for global entertainment.” 

Six Flags Qiddiya City will feature 28 rides, including several promoted as record-breakers: the Falcons Flight roller coaster, billed as the world’s tallest, fastest and longest; the Iron Rattler, described as the world’s tallest tilt coaster; and Spitfire, marketed as the world’s tallest inverted coaster.  

The park also includes 18 family-oriented rides, as well as international dining outlets and retail stores offering exclusive Six Flags merchandise. 

Qiddiya City is expected to eventually feature hundreds of attractions, along with residential, retail, office, hospitality, healthcare and educational facilities in a large-scale, mixed-use district. The development is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to expand its tourism sector and diversify its economy beyond oil. 

The theme park will open daily at 4 p.m., with complimentary shuttles connecting visitors from designated parking areas and from Jeddah Metro Station, where services will begin at 3 p.m. All shuttle services are accessible for guests with disabilities. 

Tickets will start at SR325 ($87) for adults and SR275 for children, while infants under four will be admitted free. Visitors will have the option to purchase an Unlimited GoFast Pass for priority access to selected rides. Discounted tickets for people with special needs, senior citizens and companions will be sold exclusively at the park, starting from SR75. 


Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

Updated 08 December 2025
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Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

RIYADH: Energy giants Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and Samref have signed a venture framework agreement to upgrade the Yanbu refinery and expand it into an integrated petrochemical complex.

As a part of the deal, the companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, according to a joint press statement.

The agreement will also see the parties explore opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy.

Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.

The refinery currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products, including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulfur.

“This next phase of Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil. Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy,” said Aramco Downstream President, Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani.

He added that the deal will help position Samref as a key driver of the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector’s growth.

The press statement further said that companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness, and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in Saudi Arabia.

The firms added that these plans are subject to market conditions, regulatory approvals, and final investment decisions by Aramco and ExxonMobil.

“We value our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future,” said Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp.