Six Flags plans thrill park in Dubai

Six Flags Inc., the world’s largest theme park company, announced Tuesday that it would develop a thrill park in the United Arab Emirates as part of a massive entertainment and amusement complex in the country known as Dubailand.

The Six Flags park is the latest addition to Dubailand, a 3-billion-square-foot project that will include restaurants, hotels, Universal Studios Dubailand and DreamWorks Animation Park. Groundbreaking on the Six Flags portion is expected to begin in 2009. No specific cost of the project was given.

“This is an historic day for our company,” Six Flags Chief Executive Mark Shapiro said in a statement. “Expanding Six Flags beyond our current North American borders validates the growing strength and momentum of our brand.

“We now have the opportunity to create a world-class theme park destination that will allow guests from around the globe to experience Six Flags’ unique combination of thrills and entertainment.”

The project is a partnership between Six Flags Inc. and Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding. This is the first Six Flags project to be developed outside North America. The company operates 21 theme parks in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including Magic Mountain in Valencia.