The wait is over. On New Year’s Eve, the gates to Qiddiya City finally opened. We were among the first to strap into the record-breaking Falcon’s Flight. Is it worth the hype, the nausea, and the SAR 325 ticket price?
For five years, it was a statistic on a press release: 250 km/h. For coaster enthusiasts, it was a “will they, won’t they” rumor. For us, standing in the queue at the newly opened Six Flags Qiddiya this week, it was a terrifying reality.
On December 31, 2025, Saudi Arabia officially inaugurated its entertainment crown jewel, Six Flags Qiddiya City, located 40 minutes from Riyadh in the dramatic Tuwaiq Mountains. While the park features 28 rides and six themed lands, everyone, absolutely everyone, was there for one thing: Falcon’s Flight.
Having ridden Ferrari World’s Formula Rossa (the previous speed record holder) and Cedar Point’s Millennium Force, we thought we were prepared. We were wrong. This Six Flags Qiddiya Falcon’s Flight review comes with a warning: This machine does not respect your equilibrium.
The Stats: Why It’s a Monster
Before we discuss the ride experience, let’s look at the numbers that define this engineering marvel by Swiss manufacturer Intamin.
- Height: 195 meters (640 ft). For context, that is taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza.
- Speed: 250 km/h (155 mph). It smashes the previous world record of 240 km/h.
- Length: 4,250 meters (13,943 ft). It is a marathon, lasting nearly 3 minutes.
- The Drop: A vertical dive off a cliff face.
This is the world’s first “Exa Coaster”, a category invented solely because no existing classification (Giga or Strata) went high enough.
The Experience: The Climb and the Plunge
The ride station is cavernous, themed like a futuristic falconry center. As the lap bar locks into place (there are no over-the-shoulder restraints, adding to the vulnerability), you are launched out of the station.
But unlike other coasters that hit top speed immediately, Falcon’s Flight teases you. The first section is a winding, high-speed tour of the park, weaving through the supports of the Sirocco Tower (the world’s tallest drop tower). It feels fast, but manageable.
Then comes the lift.
Using magnetic LSM motors, the train accelerates up the side of the natural Tuwaiq mountain cliff. The view from the top, 640 feet above the desert floor, is breathtaking. You can see the Riyadh skyline in the distance.
Then, you drop.
The plunge is indescribable. It’s not just falling; it’s being pulled toward the earth. The wind shield on the front of the train—a necessity to prevent facial injury at these speeds, vibrates violently. Your vision tunnels. The G-force pins you to your seat with the weight of a sumo wrestler.
By the time you hit the bottom of the valley and rocket up the 163-meter “Camelback” hill, you have lost all sense of direction. The airtime (the feeling of weightlessness) on that hill is sustained for nearly five seconds—a lifetime in coaster terms.
The Verdict: Is It Too Intense?
In our Six Flags Qiddiya Falcon’s Flight review, we have to be honest: this ride pushes the limit of human endurance.
Casual park-goers might find it overwhelming. Two riders in our train required medical attention for dizziness immediately after disembarking. However, for adrenaline junkies, this is the Holy Grail. It makes every other roller coaster on earth feel like a toy train.
It is smooth, it is relentless, and it is genuinely scary.
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Beyond the Coaster: The Park Experience
While Falcon’s Flight steals the headlines, the rest of the park is equally ambitious.
We spent the afternoon in Steam Town, a steampunk-themed land featuring the Iron Rattler, the world’s tallest tilt coaster. The mechanics here are fascinating, the track literally tilts 90 degrees downward before releasing the train.
Another highlight was Spitfire in the “Valley of Fortune,” a launch coaster that boasts the world’s tallest inversion. Hanging upside down at 50 meters while looking at the jagged mountain rocks is a memory that sticks.
The Logistics: Tickets and Timing
If you are planning a pilgrimage to Qiddiya in 2026, here is what you need to know about the costs, which were confirmed this week.
- Single Day Ticket: SAR 325 ($87) for adults.
- Child Ticket (under 1.2m): SAR 275 ($73).
- Fast Pass (Unlimited GoFast): An additional SAR 450.
Is the Fast Pass worth it? Yes. On our visit, the queue for Falcon’s Flight reached 180 minutes by midday. The Fast Pass cut that to 15 minutes. If you are flying in just for this, do not cheap out on the line-skip.
Getting There: Qiddiya is currently accessible via car or shuttle bus from Riyadh. However, the upcoming Dubai Flying Taxi Launch 2026: Route Maps & Ticket Prices network is rumored to be in talks for a future regional connection, which would be a game-changer for international tourists.
The New World Capital of Thrills
For decades, the title of “Roller Coaster Capital” belonged to Cedar Point in Ohio. In 2026, that title has migrated to the Middle East.
Six Flags Qiddiya is not just a theme park; it is a statement of intent. It proves that when Saudi Vision 2030 promised to build the extraordinary, they weren’t exaggerating.
Our final verdict for the Six Flags Qiddiya Falcon’s Flight review? Score: 10/10. Just don’t eat lunch before you ride.
