Saudi Arabia has unveiled its latest record-breaking mega-project, the world’s fastest and tallest roller coaster, promising speeds of 250 km/h and a 200-metre drop.
The Falcon’s Flight will be built at Six Flags Qiddiya, an entertainment center being developed near Riyadh, as part of the country’s ambitious Vision 2030 goals.
A new video shows a projection of the planned attraction winding along a 4,000-foot track and at one point leaping off a cliff.
It is expected to eclipse the current height record holder, the 456-foot Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.
And it will also surpass the fastest: currently the Formula Rossa at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, which reaches speeds of 230 km/h and requires the wearing of safety glasses.
Predictions reveal what roller coaster fans can expect if they fall 200 meters off a cliff
The fragment shows the extent of the planned journey against the backdrop of the vast desert landscape
At 250 km/h the ride will be the fastest in the world, upsetting the record holder in Abu Dhabi
The project was unveiled by Intamin at the International Association of Theme Parks and Attractions Expo this week.
Philippe Gas, Chief Executive Officer of Qiddiya, said: “Rollercoaster fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting this ride since its announcement because there is nothing like it anywhere else.”
“Now that we are in the design phase with the experts at Intamin and the engineering team at Six Flags, the excitement is building!
“Falcon’s Flight will dominate the Qiddiya skyline, around our destination, straight out of the theme park, up the cliff and down the cliff – the biggest descent of any ride in the world; It will not be for the faint of heart.’
Six Flags Qiddiya is billed as “a theme park that will break all records for family fun and entertainment,” spread across six themed areas with a variety of record-breaking rides and attractions, including the gravity-defying Falcon Flight.
It will be built in Qiddiya, a planned city “on the doorstep of Riyadh” being developed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
“Our aim is to ensure that Saudi Arabia is ranked as one of the top tourism destinations in the world, in line with Vision 2030, and we are proud of the local, regional and international media attention our project continues to attract,” says the development plans on a website.
Saudi Arabia, which has one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, is planning a series of so-called megaprojects aimed at reinventing its economy.
The planned Smart City Neom in northwestern Saudi Arabia was also announced by the crown prince in October 2017 as part of Saudi Vision 2030 to reduce oil dependence, diversify the economy and build public service sectors.
The ambitious project will be powered solely by wind and solar energy and is estimated to cost $500 billion.
Critics noted that only two buildings had been constructed by July 2022, ahead of the projected 2025 completion date for the first phase.
In January 2021, plans were unveiled for a 170 kilometer long and 200 meter wide linear city – “The Line” – running through the region.
It is expected that all basic amenities for nine million residents will be within five minutes’ walk.
However, the project has been criticized for its data collection surveillance technology and the death penalty for people forcibly displaced and evicted to make way for the project.
Amnesty International found that Saudi Vision 2030 was made possible by a massive demolition and eviction plan that affected half a million people in Jeddah alone, violated international human rights standards and discriminated against foreigners.
Falcon’s Flight is being built at Six Flags Qiddiya, a theme park that promises to “break all records in family fun and entertainment.”
Pictured, Formula 1-style cars race through the roller coaster at Six Flags Qiddiya
Qiddiya’s CEO said, “Rollercoaster fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting this ride since its announcement because there is nothing like it anywhere else.”
The planned roller coaster can accommodate fourteen people at a time, say the developers
Saudi Arabia is also investing in Amaala, an upcoming sustainable mega-project with 2,500 hotel rooms and 200 shops aimed at attracting tourists to the Red Sea coast.
A number of cultural sites will also receive investment as the country aims to attract international tourists as part of its diversification efforts.
Saudi Vision 2030 aims to attract 27 million domestic and foreign tourists.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
