Six Flags theme park to open in Qatar by 2012

LOONEY Tunes characters, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, The Wiggles and Thomas the Tank Engine will soon be living in Qatar - and for good.

The attractions that are usually experienced at the world’s largest regional amusement park, Six Flags, will feature here when Six Flags opens a location in Qatar by mid-2012.

Located in the $3bn Qatar Entertainment City (QEC), a mixed-use development spread over 1mn sq m in Lusail, the Six Flags Qatar will occupy a total of 50,000sq m.

The family theme park attracts 25mn visitors to its 20 parks across the North America. Qatar will be the only second such project of the brand, after Six Flags Dubailand opens to public in 2011.

Six Flags Parks across the North America also feature thrill rides, water rides along with kid rides.

QEC yesterday held a signing ceremony between Oryx Holdings, a diversified Qatari group, and Six Flags at the Four Seasons.

Under the agreement, Six Flags will provide concept development and planning services to Oryx Holdings for the creation of a Six Flags branded location within QEC. After the initial phase, Six Flags and Oryx Holdings will collaborate on the detailed design, development, construction and management of the park.

“Six Flags brings 47 years of theme park industry experience and a world renowned entertainment brand to create the best in class tourist destination in Qatar,” Oryx Holdings vice chairman and managing director Assam Shaikh said during a press conference.

The partnership, according to Shaikh, will help further establish and push Qatar’s initiatives for family-oriented tourism, attracting investments as well as keeping in-line with its growing economy.

“For the implementation, Qatari resources will be sought in all elements of the project as and when available,” Shaikh added.

Six Flags president and CEO Mark Shapiro said: “Extending the Six Flags footprint beyond Dubai represents another strategic step in our international expansion and further solidifies our reputation as a world-wide leader in family entertainment. We are thrilled to be on the ground floor of what will surely be a treasured destination.”

The company has plans for several more ventures in the region.

“There is no time to waste in the development of what will be the most attractive tourist destination within the region. QEC is on its way to becoming the place of choice to have a relaxed and entertaining time for families – whether residents or visitors alike,” QEC general manager Yousef Darwish said.

Also speaking was Abu Dhabi Investment House (ADIH) deputy CEO Fawaz Ali al-Jowder who said that Six Flags and Oryx Holdings complement ADIH’s vision for this unique development.

ADIH is the developer of the QEC, also known as Taref City. Al-Jowder also praised the Qatari authorities for their support to the project.