Six Flags Dubai Cancelled + Developer Pays For Right to Maybe Build Park Later

© Six Flags

First announced in 2016, Six Flags Dubai had originally been planned to open this year, though individuals watching the 'construction' of the park have been reporting not much of anything going on at the site for some time now.

Back in April of this year the news broke that the park was being pulled by DXB Entertainments, which also operate a Bollywood Parks Dubai theme park, Motiongate Dubai and a Legoland near where Six Flags Dubai would have opened.  The company hasn't achieved any financial success since the parks opened, and instead of trying to build yet another park they have decided to focus on the existing properties.

Many of the rides destined to go to Six Flags Dubai were already ordered or fabricated, so many of them will be going to the Bollywood Parks Dubai and Motiongate Dubai.  Some of them are true thrill rides according to the company, featuring "world record" statistics - the details of which were not revealed.

Six Flags Dubai's original concept art, up top, featured a large launched or hyper coaster, what appeared to be a clone of Goliath at Six Flags Great America, an Intamin Ball Coaster, plus many family attractions.  It will be interesting to see which rides will appear at the other parks.

Just recently news also broke that DXB Entertainments will pay Six Flags $7.5 million in order to have the right of first refusal to build a park using the Six Flags name in Dubai.  That agreement will last for 5 years, and essentially means no one else can build a licensed Six Flags park in Dubai for that period unless DXB says they don't want to.  So, that sounds like if suddenly the existing parks start to make a profit (they lose money each year) and they want to expand, they can once again pull the trigger on opening a Six Flags park.

Six Flags Releases New Concept Art for Thrill Park in Dubai

© Six Flags

Here is our first official look at what Six Flags has planned for the park that is being developed in Dubai under a licensing agreement.  Known as Six Flags Dubai, the park is expected to open in 2019 as a part of Dubai Parks and Resorts' second phase of development.  When completed, the theme park will be located near the Lapita Hotel and Riverland Dubai, close to at least three other theme parks.

© Six Flags

The park will have 27 rides and attractions, from large coasters and interactive dark rides, to smaller family attractions.  A large part of the park will be indoors so as to be air-conditioned, including the entrance promenade with a "VIP mezzanine, space for private and catered events, along with an assortment of retail and food locations including a signature bakery and deli. Guests will have access to three attractions from inside the plaza and the park’s signature roller coaster will encircle the entire promenade."

© Six Flags

The theme park is described as "intricately themed" with planning design work done by Forrec, a well known theme park planning company.  The larger version of the concept art above shows several large rides that stand out, such as:

• A clone of Goliath, a Rocky Mountain wooden coaster at Six Flags Great America
• A large steel coaster, perhaps a hyper or large launched ride, that interacts with the entrance plaza
• An Intamin ZacSpin or "ball coaster"
• One of Mack's new Power Splash water shuttle coasters
• A clone of Gerstlauer's spinning coaster, like Six Flags New England's Pandemonium
• One of the 400+ foot Star Flyer swing rides
• A pair of S&S tower rides

Other attractions that can be seen or are mentioned in the press release include a 4-D interactive dark ride, virtual reality experiences, a large stunt show, water rides and family attractions.

Six Flags Entertainment will not actually build or own Six Flags Dubai, as this development just licenses the use of the name and the help of the company to design the property.