Six Flags plans theme parks in Saudi Arabia
Chief of the US entertainment company has meeting with kingdom’s deputy crown prince – report
The chief executive of Six Flags Entertainment Corp, the US theme park company, has said that there are plans underway to expand into Saudi Arabia.
Speaking during a television interview with the Al Arabiya News Channel, a Saudi-owned network, John Duffey signalled that the company hoped to bring roller coasters and bumper cars to the Arabian Gulf kingdom.
“We’re very honoured to be provided with an opportunity to enter into a partnership to bring Six Flags to the kingdom… Our parks can provide the entertainment to which the Saudis aspire,” he said during the interview, which was dubbed in Arabic, Reuters reported.
However, Duffey did not elaborate on the terms of the partnership, a Reuters report said.
The Six Flags CEO was speaking following a meeting with Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is currently in the US to promote a reform plan that will ease the kingdom off its reliance on oil revenue.
At present, it is unclear whether the development of a Saudi theme park will see a change in the rides, which include water slides, so as to adhere to the social codes of the conservative country.
Six Flags operates 20 or more theme and water parks in North America. It recently signed an agreement with a private Ho Chi Minh City based company to develop two water parks in Vietnam.
