by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:30 PM ET, Mon June 20, 2016
On Monday, officials from the Six Flags Entertainment Corporation have announced preliminary plans to build amusement parks in Saudi Arabia.
According to Reuters, the announcement comes after meetings in the United States between Six Flags CEO James Reid-Anderson and deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi royal is hoping that theme parks will help generate a buzz in the private sector, provide more jobs for locals and improve the lifestyles of residents, especially as oil prices slump.
Few details were available about whether Six Flags would customize the new parks for the ultra-conservative nation, including the possible inclusion of water slides. Saudi Arabia's public spaces are gender segregated, and sites are patrolled by state-sponsored Islamic morality enforcers.
"We're very honored to be provided with an opportunity to enter into a partnership to bring Six Flags to the kingdom," Six Flags CFO John Duffy told Reuters. "Our parks can provide the entertainment to which Saudis aspire."
While Duffy didn't elaborate on the terms of the partnership, this is the latest in a series of international agreements from the theme park giant. In March, Six Flags officials signed an agreement to open two parks in Vietnam.
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