Saudi Arabia’s entertainment landscape has been transformed beyond recognition. A country that once had virtually no public theme parks now operates the world’s tallest roller coaster, a miniature-globe experience that draws millions annually, and a 360-square-kilometre entertainment city rising from the desert southwest of Riyadh. For anyone navigating the Saudi Arabia Travel Guide, understanding the kingdom’s theme parks and entertainment complexes is essential — these are not peripheral attractions but flagship statements of the Vision 2030 project to rewire how the country spends its leisure hours and earns its tourism dollars.

The scale of ambition is hard to overstate. The General Entertainment Authority was created in 2016 in a country where public cinemas had been banned for 35 years. By 2019, Riyadh Season launched with 11 million visitors in its first 66 days. By 2025, Six Flags Qiddiya City opened to the public with 28 rides including a coaster that smashes every previous record for height, speed and length. More is still on the way.

Six Flags Qiddiya City: The World’s Most Extreme Theme Park

Six Flags Qiddiya City opened on 31 December 2025 — New Year’s Eve — in a ceremony attended by the Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Faisal bin Bandar, with a live performance by Alicia Keys. The park sits on 320,000 square metres of land inside the wider Qiddiya City masterplan, about 40 kilometres southwest of central Riyadh. For anyone who tracks theme park records, this is the place. For families and casual visitors, it is one of the most ambitious amusement parks ever built.

The headline attraction is Falcons Flight, a steel exa coaster manufactured by Intamin that holds three simultaneous world records: the tallest, the fastest, and the longest roller coaster on earth. The ride climbs to heights that dwarf previous record holders and reaches speeds that previously existed only in concept documents. It is the park’s signature centrepiece and the reason enthusiasts were booking flights to Riyadh months before the park opened.

Alongside Falcons Flight, the City of Thrills zone houses Sirocco Tower, a 145-metre drop tower by S&S Sansei Technologies that is the world’s tallest of its kind. These are not incidental firsts — they were engineered as deliberate statements about what Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector intends to be.

Read our dedicated Six Flags Qiddiya guide for ride-by-ride detail, practical getting-there advice, and first-hand visitor notes.

Six Flags Qiddiya: Themed Zones

The park is organised into six distinct zones, each with its own visual language and ride roster:

• Steam Town — Mechanical-themed zone featuring the Iron Rattler, a steel tilt coaster that holds the record as the world’s tallest of its kind, plus Saw Mill Falls water coaster and the Sprockenator rotating-arm ride.
• City of Thrills — Arabic-influenced futuristic design. Home to Falcons Flight, Sirocco Tower, and the Adrena-Line suspended coaster by Vekoma.
• Valley of Fortune — Desert and adventure theming with the Spitfire coaster.
• Twilight Gardens — Family and children’s zone with the Enchanted Greenhouse dark ride (ETF Ride Systems), Twilight Express family coaster, and Kaleidoscope Balloons.
• Discovery Springs — Aquatic oasis area with the Sea Stallion rider-controlled coaster (also a world record holder), Zoomaflooma log flume, Big Splash water plunge, and the Into the Deep dark ride by Triotech.
• Grand Exposition — World’s-fair inspired zone with Colossus, a wooden hybrid coaster by Great Coasters International, and the Arabian Carousel with camel and horse figures set to traditional melodies.



Six Flags Qiddiya: Tickets and Practical Information

Ticket prices at opening were set at SAR 325 (approximately US$87) for adults and SAR 275 (approximately US$74) for children. Infants under four years old enter free. A single-day ticket grants unlimited access to all rides and attractions. The park’s official website at sixflagsqiddiyacity.com handles advance booking.

Practical tip: Book tickets online in advance, especially during school holidays and Riyadh Season. The park is not yet on the Riyadh Metro network — ride-hailing apps (Careem, Uber) or a rental car are the practical options from central Riyadh. A dedicated high-speed rail line from King Salman International Airport via KAFD to Qiddiya City has been announced, with the first phase of Riyadh Metro Line 7 scheduled for 2026.

The park was developed by Qiddiya Investment Company (owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund) and is operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. It is the first Six Flags park in Asia and the first Six Flags location outside North America since 2004, when the company sold its European division.

Boulevard World: A Miniature Globe in Riyadh

Boulevard World (BLVD World) is a different kind of experience. Less about adrenaline, more about spectacle and cultural immersion, it opened on 21 November 2022 — deliberately timed to coincide with the start of the FIFA World Cup in neighbouring Qatar — and has since become one of the most-visited entertainment destinations in the Arab world. Located on Prince Turki al-Awwal Road in Riyadh’s Hittin neighbourhood, adjacent to Boulevard City, it attracted six million visitors during the 2024 edition of Riyadh Season alone.

The concept is a high-end miniature world: recreated replicas of iconic landmarks from more than 20 countries arranged around a lagoon that, at 12.19 hectares, entered the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest man-made lagoon of its kind. The park also collected five Guinness records in its first season.

Read our complete Boulevard World Riyadh guide for zone-by-zone navigation, dining recommendations, and seasonal opening dates.

The Countries at Boulevard World

Boulevard World’s cultural zones represent an extraordinarily ambitious global itinerary compressed into a single afternoon. The original 2022 edition featured ten countries: the United States, France, Italy, Morocco, Greece, India, China, Japan, Spain, and Mexico. Subsequent seasons have expanded significantly. By 2023 and 2024, the park incorporated Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, Egypt, Thailand, Turkey, Iran, and a Levant cluster covering Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan, plus African zones (Kenya and Uganda) and an Amazonia section featuring Brazil and Peru.

Each zone uses architectural replicas, local cuisine outlets, cultural performances, and themed décor. The France zone includes a Courchevel ski-village aesthetic. The India zone features a Taj Mahal replica. The Japan zone reproduces the feel of a traditional street market alongside modern Tokyo iconography.



Boulevard World: Rides and Entertainment

While the park is primarily a cultural and dining destination, it has expanded its thrill offering considerably. As of 2024 it operates 30 rides including three roller coasters. The entertainment programme runs throughout the evening with live performances, cultural shows, and seasonal events. The park hosted Saudi Founding Day celebrations in February 2023 with dedicated cultural programming.

When Does Boulevard World Open?

Boulevard World operates primarily during the annual Riyadh Season entertainment festival, which runs from October through to March. The 2022 edition ran from November 2022 to March 2023. The 2024 edition opened on 12 October 2024. Outside of Riyadh Season, the park is typically closed — check the official Riyadh Season website (riyadhseason.com) for confirmed dates before planning your visit.

Practical tip: Boulevard World is busiest on Thursday and Friday evenings when Riyadh families head out after the working week. Arrive before 7pm to get your bearings before the evening crowds build. The lagoon area is spectacular after dark. Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered is the baseline expectation, though the atmosphere is relaxed by Saudi standards.

Riyadh Season: The City-Wide Entertainment Festival

To understand Saudi theme parks and entertainment, you must understand Riyadh Season. This is not a single venue — it is an annual city-wide festival organised by the General Entertainment Authority that converts large sections of Riyadh into entertainment zones from October through to March. Boulevard World is one zone; there are typically 14 to 17 zones operating simultaneously across the city.

Riyadh Season was launched in October 2019 as part of the Saudi Seasons initiative, one of eleven regional entertainment festivals under Vision 2030. The inaugural season drew 11 million visitors across 66 days and generated an estimated SAR 6 billion in revenue. The seasons have grown in scale every year since, with international performers, sporting events, motorsport, esports competitions, wrestling (WWE has held multiple events in Riyadh), and major exhibitions all folded into the programme.

Key Entertainment Zones During Riyadh Season

Beyond Boulevard World, Riyadh Season rotates a selection of major zones each year. Zones that have featured in recent seasons include:

• Boulevard City — The shopping, dining, and entertainment complex adjacent to Boulevard World, open year-round with a broader selection of brands and restaurants than any other district in Riyadh.
• Winter Wonderland — A Riyadh Season fixture that brings a fairground and winter-carnival aesthetic to the capital, with rides, food stalls, and an artificial snow and ice experience. Particularly popular with families with younger children.
• Al-Murabba — Cultural and heritage zone themed around central Riyadh’s historical districts, featuring traditional crafts, architecture, and cuisine alongside modern performance spaces.
• Al-Nakheel — A family entertainment zone in north Riyadh with a fairground-style ride selection and live entertainment.
• Esports Boulevard — A dedicated gaming and esports zone reflecting Saudi Arabia’s significant investment in competitive gaming, with tournaments, gaming experience zones, and international teams competing.
• Diriyah — The UNESCO-listed historical district hosts cultural seasons with concerts, heritage experiences, and events timed to complement the Diriyah Season festival (which runs adjacent to Riyadh Season).

Planning note: Not all zones run for the full Riyadh Season duration. Some open mid-season, some close early, and zone lineups change year to year. The official Riyadh Season website (riyadhseason.com) publishes zone maps and opening dates ahead of each season. Many zones offer combined day passes; others are free-entry with paid ride tickets inside.

Qiddiya City: The Entertainment Megaproject in Full

Six Flags Qiddiya City is the first delivered piece of a much larger project. Qiddiya City is a 360-square-kilometre planned entertainment and tourism megaproject in Riyadh Province, announced in April 2017 as a flagship Vision 2030 initiative. Backed by the Public Investment Fund with Mohammed bin Salman as chairman of the Qiddiya Investment Company, it is designed as a fully self-contained entertainment city projected to attract 17 million visitors annually by 2030 and create 325,000 jobs.

The scale of what is planned — and what is still under construction — makes Qiddiya one of the most ambitious entertainment development projects ever undertaken. Construction began in 2019, and while timelines have shifted, the core assets are progressing:

What’s Coming to Qiddiya City

• Aquarabia Waterpark — Announced in February 2022, Aquarabia is designed to be the largest waterpark in the Middle East and North Africa, inspired by the Arabian Peninsula’s landscapes. It remains under construction as of early 2026. For a preview of Saudi Arabia’s existing water attractions, see our guide to water parks in Saudi Arabia.
• Dragon Ball Theme Park — Announced March 2024, this will be the world’s first theme park based on the Dragon Ball franchise. Construction is under way, with no confirmed opening date yet published.
• Mercedes-AMG World of Performance — Announced February 2025, this will be the first Mercedes-AMG experience centre worldwide, featuring driving simulators, on-track activities, and brand exhibits.
• Qiddiya Speed Park Track — An FIA Grade 1 racing circuit planned to host Formula One and MotoGP events. Under construction.
• Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium — A multi-purpose stadium designed by Populous for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, planned as the home ground for Al-Nassr FC and Al-Hilal SFC. Under construction.

A high-speed rail line connecting King Salman International Airport, the King Abdullah Financial District, and Qiddiya City was announced in September 2025, with bidding under way. Phase one of Riyadh Metro Line 7, extending from Diriyah to Qiddiya, is scheduled for 2026.

Visitor context: In April 2026, Qiddiya City’s only operational public venue is Six Flags Qiddiya City. The wider city — including the waterpark, Dragon Ball park, and racing circuit — is under construction. If you are planning a trip specifically around Qiddiya, build your itinerary around Six Flags and allow time to explore the surrounding desert landscape, which is genuinely dramatic, especially at dusk.

Winter Wonderland Riyadh: Seasonal Magic

Winter Wonderland is one of the most reliably popular entertainment zones within Riyadh Season. Modelled loosely on the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland concept but adapted for Riyadh’s climate and audience, it typically features a fairground-style layout with a selection of family rides, an ice rink or artificial snow experience, themed food stalls, craft markets, and evening light installations.

The format varies slightly between seasons. In recent Riyadh Seasons it has operated in the Al-Nakheel district of north Riyadh and has been a particular draw for families with children aged 5–12, who find the scale and atmosphere more manageable than the largest zones. Entry is typically free, with paid tickets for individual rides and attractions inside.

Winter Wonderland Riyadh runs during the cooler months — November through February — which aligns with the most comfortable outdoor temperatures in the city. Evening temperatures in this window fall to 10–15°C, genuinely cold by Saudi standards, making the winter theming feel appropriate rather than forced.

Beyond Riyadh: Entertainment Destinations Across the Kingdom

Riyadh dominates the entertainment conversation, but other cities have developed their own leisure infrastructure under Vision 2030:

Jeddah Entertainment

Jeddah’s corniche and waterfront have always hosted public entertainment, but the Jeddah Season entertainment festival now runs parallel to Riyadh Season with its own zone lineup. Jeddah’s warm coastal climate allows outdoor entertainment to run comfortably between October and April. The city’s entertainment zones have featured dedicated children’s parks, cultural heritage areas (including the Al-Balad historic district), and international concerts.

Al Ula: Immersive Cultural Experiences

Al Ula is less a theme park than an immersive cultural destination — the site of Hegra (Mada’in Saleh), Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, combined with extraordinary desert scenery and the Maraya concert hall, the world’s largest mirrored building. The Winter at Tantora festival runs from December to March, with concerts, hot-air ballooning, and heritage tours. The experience is quieter and more contemplative than Riyadh’s entertainment zones, suited to travellers seeking depth over thrill.

Diriyah: Heritage Entertainment

Diriyah, the birthplace of the Saudi state and the site of the ruined Turaif mud-brick district (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), has been developed into a major cultural tourism destination adjacent to Riyadh. The At-Turaif district hosts the Diriyah Season cultural festival with concerts, heritage experiences, and world-class dining. Diriyah is positioned as a premium cultural destination, not a theme park — but for visitors wanting more than rides, it offers one of the most distinctive experiences in the kingdom.

Practical Guide to Saudi Theme Parks

When to Visit

The optimal window for visiting Saudi Arabia’s entertainment venues is October through March. This aligns with Riyadh Season, meaning Boulevard World and the seasonal entertainment zones are operational. Temperatures are manageable — daytime highs of 20–28°C across this period — and the social atmosphere in the city is at its most energetic. Six Flags Qiddiya City operates year-round, but the summer months (June–September) see temperatures exceeding 40°C, which makes outdoor theme park visits uncomfortable. The park does operate in summer with earlier opening hours and extended evening sessions.

Getting a Visa

Tourist visas are available to citizens of 49 countries on arrival, or for almost all nationalities as an e-visa online. See our Saudi Arabia visa guide for complete details on requirements, costs, and the application process. The tourist e-visa is straightforward, processed online, and valid for 90 days in any 12-month period.

Getting Around

Riyadh is a sprawling car-dependent city. For theme park visits, the practical options are:

• Ride-hailing — Careem and Uber both operate in Riyadh and are reliable, affordable, and widely used by visitors. They are the easiest option for most travellers.
• Rental car — Useful for multiple venue visits in one trip or for reaching Qiddiya (40km southwest of central Riyadh). International driving licences are accepted.
• Riyadh Metro — The metro network opened in 2024 and covers key central and northern Riyadh destinations. It does not yet serve Qiddiya or the Hittin area directly.

Dress Code and Social Norms

Saudi Arabia’s social norms around dress have relaxed considerably since 2017. Women are no longer required to wear the abaya, though modest dress (covered shoulders, loose-fitting clothing that covers the knees) is the appropriate baseline at all entertainment venues. Men should avoid shorts at more formal venues. The enforced gender segregation that defined Saudi public spaces a decade ago has been largely dismantled — mixed-gender socialising at entertainment venues is normalised and expected.

Alcohol is not available at any public entertainment venue in Saudi Arabia. Food at theme parks ranges from international fast food through to sit-down restaurants at the larger venues.

Booking Tips

• Book Six Flags tickets online at sixflagsqiddiyacity.com to avoid queues at the gate. Prices may vary by date and demand.
• For Riyadh Season venues, tickets are available through the Riyadh Season app and website. Some zones are free entry.
• If travelling with children under 12, consider arriving early at Six Flags to maximise time in the family zones before afternoon crowds build.
• For families with multiple ages, Boulevard World is often the more comfortable choice — the pace is more relaxed, there is no height restriction anxiety, and the food options are significantly better.

For families travelling with children across multiple ages, our Saudi Arabia family and kids itinerary covers how to sequence venues across a multi-day visit to Riyadh, including which parks work best for which age groups.

Explore More Saudi Arabia Travel Guides

• Saudi Arabia Travel Guide 2026 — The complete guide
• Water Parks in Saudi Arabia — Best aqua parks and slides
• Best Neighbourhoods in Riyadh — Where to stay and explore
• Six Flags Qiddiya — Saudi Arabia’s mega theme park
• Boulevard World Riyadh — International themed zones
• Saudi Arabia Visa Guide — Every visa type explained