Just days after the CEO of Six Flags announced plans to launch in Saudi Arabia, a spokesperson for the U.S. theme park has now denied any plan to open in the kingdom.
News about a potential Six Flags in Saudi Arabia surfaced shortly after Six Flags' CEO John Duffy met with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Duffey did an interview with the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV channel, in which he was quoted as saying, "We’re very honored to be provided with an opportunity to enter into a partnership to bring Six Flags to the kingdom."
However, a Six Flags spokesperson has now said that the company constantly holds meetings with business and world leaders on an ongoing basis, denying any deal with Saudi Arabia.
"The only Middle East market where an agreement currently exists to open a Six Flags park is in Dubai and no agreement has been reached to open any parks elsewhere in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia," the spokesperson said, according to The National .
The spokesperson said that the only exclusive partnership the company currently has in the GCC is with Dubai Parks and Resorts .
This whole situation is a bit fishy, considering the CEO of Six Flags was quoted as making the original announcement himself.
"We’re very honored to be provided with an opportunity to enter into a partnership to bring Six Flags to the kingdom… Our parks can provide the entertainment to which Saudis aspire," Duffy reportedly said in his statement to Al Arabiya .
Numerous media outlets covered the story, announcing the opening of the theme park in the kingdom.
Is Six Flags backtracking now? Or was the CEO misquoted? Of course, we just hope that a deal is eventually reached...