There have been several Six Flags theme parks that have seen their demise. From catastrophic hurricane damage to declining revenues, we have seen parks permanently close their doors. However, there are a few international Six Flags parks that were planned and never got the opportunity to welcome guests. Three different parks were planned in Asia to be located in The United Arab Emirates and China. However, none of these parks ever got past initial construction. Let’s look at these SCRAPPED Six Flags parks.
Six Flags in The United Arab Emirates
Six Flags Dubai was initially announced in 2008 as a collaboration between Six Flags and Dubai Holdings Inc. The park was given the name Six Flags Dubailand. However, the project was canceled in 2010 when Tatweer, a subsidiary of Dubai Holdings Inc. failed to pay Six Flags as stipulated in their contract. This caused Six Flags to terminate the agreement. However, the project was revived in 2014 when Meraas partnered with Six Flags to build a Six Flags-branded park as part of their new Dubai Parks and Resorts entertainment destination. Dubai Park and Resorts also includes Motiongate theme park, Bollywood Parks, and Legoland Dubai.
This new project was initially set to open by 2020 and was set to be one of Six Flags’ largest parks, the largest park outside of the United States in fact. It was to include 27 attractions in different themed areas of the park. The new rides and attractions allegedly would have included record-breaking roller coasters including a signature coaster that would have encircled the park’s entrance. One of these coasters was also rumored to be the “World’s Biggest Coaster.” Additionally, there would have been a next-generation 4D interactive dark ride, drop tower, several family flat rides, and a breathtaking nighttime spectacular. Six Flags collaborator Legacy Entertainment shows what the park might have looked like with concept art.
Unfortunately, in 2019 it was announced that although construction has already been underway, the project was not moving forward. It is speculated that this was due to the other Dubai Parks and Resorts’ parks not bringing in the expected crowds and revenues. The rides that had already been built were sold to other parks at Dubai Parks and Resorts.
While Six Flags Dubailand was ultimately scrapped, Six Flags seems to have gotten a second chance to open one of its largest and most ambitious parks yet. Just over the border from The United Arab Emirates in Saudi Arabia, Six Flags is currently building Six Flags Qiddiya which will house the world’s new tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, Falcon’s Flight.
Six Flags in China
There was a major multi-park project that was planned in China called Six Flags Zhejiang. While initial theme park plans were announced in 2014 through a partnership between Six Flags and Riverside Investment Group, by 2018 plans to form four parks. The parks were to be located in Nanjing and would have been made up of a theme park, a water park, a kid’s park, and an adventure park. The first phase was expected to open in 2021. The parks would have showcased impressive roller coasters, including a spinning coaster, power splash coaster, and hypercoaster. Additionally, there would have been other state-of-the-art rides, slides, and attractions in addition to many culinary options and retail locations.
Unlike the United States parks which typically include a theme park and waterpark duo, this project would have also included an adventure park and a kids-themed park. The adventure park would have included motocross cycle races, zip lines, and rock climbing. It was boasted as a place for guests to go outside of their comfort zones. Adjacent to the other three parks, would have sat Six Flags Kids World. This was a park specifically designed for children and would have included rides, roller coasters, and brightly colored play zones. Interestingly, the park would have also featured education-based entertainment focused on math, science, and fitness. Kid-friendly restaurants and loads of toys would have also been available at this park.
This four-park design was unlike any of the parks we have seen in the United States. However, following financial turmoil from Riverside Investment Group, the project was taken over by Sunac China Holdings and rebranded into Hangzhou Bay Sunac Tourism City which would include Sunac Land and the Sunac Waterpark which opened in 2021. The theme park, expected to open in 2025, is technically still in development; however, construction has been delayed indefinitely and it is unclear if the project will ever fully come to fruition. We will be sure to keep you posted on the status of the Sunac Land park.
Six Flags is certainly taking on one of its most ambitious projects ever with Six Flags Qiddiya. Located within the new entertainment district in Saudi Arabia called Qiddiya, it will sit about 40 miles outside the nation’s capital city and is said to be a multi-billion-dollar project. Construction has now begun on Falcon’s Flight which when built will be the world’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster! We are closely following its progress.
