RIYADH: Six Flags Qiddiya City opened its doors to a select number of visitors for its soft opening earlier this month before its official opening on Dec. 31, and the experience was incredible.
Six Flags is one part of Qiddiya City, the upcoming hub for entertainment, sports and innovation located an hour’s drive from Riyadh.
The city is the largest amusement park in the Kingdom with a world record five rollercoasters and rides.
Six Flags Qiddiya City’s beginnings track back to 2021 when Qiddiya Investment Co. signed a SR3.75 billion ($1 billion) contract to build the park.
The short journey on the bus to the entrance foreshadowed the unique experience we were in for: breathtaking mountains, chilling desert wind and peaks of rollercoaster trails all around and through a mountain.
The park is brightly lit with Saudi Arabia-themed architecture. Souvenir stops and small shops are all around in traditional Najdi-style buildings.
Past the entrance, the park splits into six areas: City of Thrills, Grand Exposition, Steam Town, Twilight Gardens, Discovery Springs and Valley of Fortune. Each of these features a mix of child-friendly rides and large rollercoasters for thrill seekers.
As an adrenaline junkie myself, I was excited to kick off the night in City of Thrills, where the theme was rather futuristic.
City of Thrills features two of the park’s iconic and record-breaking rides: Falcon’s Flight and Sirocco Tower.
Falcon’s Flight is the world’s longest, fastest and tallest rollercoaster yet. Sirocco Tower is the highest drop-tower ride in the world, going up to an astonishing 145 meters.
While neither were open during the soft launch, I will definitely be revisiting the park to try both. To set the tone for my experience at City of Thrills, I chose Adrena-Line to start.
The ride is classified as a mid-level thrill, but the setup of a suspended rollercoaster really amplified the experience as my legs hung free and the trail took us upside-down.
I headed over to Grand Exposition, where the overall theme was past-meets-future. This area is particularly diverse in its rides and dining options.
One of the most notable rides is the Arabian Carousel, which features camels and Arab paintings.
Grand Exposition is a blend of history that has varying dining options including Taste of Asia and Fish & Chippery.
I could not leave without trying Colossus, an extreme-thrill wooden ride that left me speechless. Although it lacks upside-down twists, Colossus is perfect for those looking for speed and drops.
Steam Town was up next, which was especially exciting because it is home to the infamous Iron Rattler, a record-breaking rollercoaster.
I grabbed a hotdog from Steam Town Grill as I watched those on the Iron Rattler scream as they reached the tilt at the end before dropping.
Steam Town has a lot of shopping options, from ride-inspired souvenirs to toys. Although not yet open for visitors to shop, the merchandise was enjoyable to see.
Twilight Gardens and Discovery Springs have dazzling themes. Twilight Gardens is a lovely experience for kids as the land is decorated with glittering and neon-lit artificial plants and flowers.
It features a soft rollercoaster called Twilight Thrill that is lady-bug themed for kids to enjoy. Discovery Springs is where to go for a quick splash and thrill.
Although rides such as Zoomafloma were closed until the official opening day, Discovery Springs is definitely the land for water-ride fans.
Home to Spitfire, another record-breaking rollercoaster in Valley of Fortune was a great way to wrap up my visit.
This final land offers a treasure hunt experience with a jungle-like theme and matching dining and souvenir stops, which is a great balance for both adult thrill-seekers and kids.
Overall, the park’s carefully curated themes, ambitious rides and unique location offer an experience unlike any other that I have experienced across the world.
There is something special about seeing the highest coaster drops stand tall in the desert landscape.
