Six Flags Entertainment plans to open its first theme park in Saudi Arabia in 2020 or 2021, and its expansion into the kingdom could extend to three attractions, Reuters reported.
“The parks are likely to be government-owned, although that’s not guaranteed yet, because talks are still early and there can be changes,” Jim Reid-Anderson, executive chairman of the US theme park company, is reported as saying.
The parks each cost between $300 and $500 million to build, Reid-Anderson reportedly said on the sidelines of the MiSK Forum in Riyadh. 
The first park is tentatively planned for Riyadh, while others may follow in Jeddah and another site on the Red Sea coast.
Dubai Parks and Resorts holds exclusive rights to develop and operate Six Flags-branded theme parks in GCC, but granted Saudi Arabia a waiver for the development of attractions there.
News of the plans emerged in June, when Six Flags said it plans to expand into Saudi Arabia.
At present, it is unclear whether the development of a Saudi theme park will see a change in the rides, which include water slides, so as to adhere to the social codes of the conservative country.
Six Flags operates 20 or more theme and water parks in North America. It earlier signed an agreement with a private Ho Chi Minh City based company to develop two water parks in Vietnam.
