Saudi Arabia to open world’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster
Falcon's Flight will whisk riders at speeds of more than 250km/h
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A new rollercoaster in Saudi Arabia is set to smash records as the longest, fastest and tallest in the world when it opens.
The Falcon’s Flight ride, the signature attraction of the Six Flags Qiddiya theme park, will whisk up to 20 riders on a 4km route at speeds of more than 250km/h.
One of the manoeuvres on the three-minute ride is a heart-stopping vertical dive into a 160m-deep valley using magnetic motor acceleration.
The 32-hectare park, just outside capital Riyadh, is set to open in 2023. It will have six “themed lands”, with 28 rides and attractions.
Qiddiya’s chief executive, Philippe Gas, says that the ride “won’t be for the fainthearted”.
“Falcon’s flight will dominate the skyline at Qiddiya, weave all the way around our destination, right out of the theme park, up the cliffside, and down the cliff face – the greatest drop of any ride in the world,” he said.
The Gulf nation, the largest in the region, has been slowly opening up to foreign tourists.
In September 2019, the country started issuing tourist e-visas to independent travellers from 49 nations, including the UK.
Tourism is a key component of the country’s long-term roadmap, called Vision 2030, which aims to bring in 30 million visitors annually by 2030 – which would put Saudi Arabia on par with Greece and Japan.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments