Falcons Flight Review: Engineering Meets Ambition at Six Flags Qiddiya

The record-breaking Intamin coaster Falcons Flight finally opened at Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia in late 2025 to much excitement. I visited Six Flags Qiddiya in February 2026 and had the pleasure of experiencing the world’s tallest, longest and fastest coaster. Here’s my Falcons Flight review, overview and verdict of this new behemoth in the heart of the Arabian desert.

Falcons Flight is situated along the eastern rim of the Qiddiya park in the City of Thrills area, and is the first major attraction guests see as they approach the park on foot after disembarking the Qiddiya coach. Before reaching security, the roar of the train can be felt in the air as it soars overhead, amplifying the excitement of entering the park. The ascension and descent off the cliffs are visible as you approach the park; an incredible setting few coasters can match.

The theming is elegant and minimalistic: the station and queue line consist of sleek falcon iconography, metallic walls, and a silver/navy color scheme. The bleached white track traces the perimeter of the park. Nothing is allowed to be taken on the ride with metal detectors present in the queue line, but free lockers for smaller items like phones are provided in the Falcons Flight queue.

A dual‑loading platform is present in the station. Dispatches alternate with the train crawling forward before the first launch. Water jets are located just below the station platform to cool the wheels of trains arriving back at the station.

The trains are remarkably comfortable. The seats recline low, feeling like a lying rather than a seated position. Hoods are provided to riders with long hair to keep them safe by preventing hair entanglement with the train. The train’s protective windscreen doesn’t hinder the view; instead, it channels the slipstream efficiently while keeping the rider exposed to the power of the launches to come.

The first launch hits hard; it will throw your head back, but it’s not violent. The LSM launches feel distinctly Intamin if you’ve ridden Maverick or Taron. Riders in the rear cars are treated to a burst of strong ejector airtime as the train crests the first drop. A sequence of wave turns and camelbacks follow, resulting in consecutive strong airtime. These elements on their own would make a solid coaster, but this is a prelude for what’s to come.

The train then abruptly ascends the park’s outer cliff, and the speed hits 100 mph. Suddenly, you’re hundreds of feet above the resort. You don’t realize how high you are until you’ve reached the peak. The outer bank along the cliff edge delivers one of the ride’s most terrifying moments, dangling riders above the desert before leveling out again on the plateau.

The train traverses a series of hops and banks. These look deceptively slow from online POV videos, but are faster than expected in person. Then the train coasts to a stop at the cliff’s edge.

Everything falls silent. The resort is distant, and Riyadh’s skyline is invisible across the desert. You dive vertically off the cliff, vanishing into the downhill tunnel. The moment the train emerges, it hits the famous 155 mph launch.

It sounds and feels like a fighter jet taking off with instant, shattering acceleration. Formula Rossa hits 149.1 mph, but the launch is not comparable. Formula Rossa feels like a drawn-out catapult, more like Stealth at Thorpe Park. The delivery of Falcons Flight is drastically different with the intensity primarily coming from the powerful wind in your face. Seconds later, the ascent of the world’s tallest camelback hill takes place. Airtime is sustained for a long stretch, which is a significant contrast compared to the powerful launch that just occurred.

The layout emphasizes momentum for the second half. The train soars past hotel construction zones and the forthcoming Formula One track. This will no doubt be even more spectacular as construction progresses. A noticeable vibration occurs in the second half of the ride, but does not intrude significantly on the overall ride experience. The ride finally curves around the park entrance before hitting the final brake run.

Morning and night rides are distinctly different from each other. Daylight exposes the terrifying scale of the cliff height, but night showcases how beautiful the park looks from afar with the theming and light displays. Both versions are must‑ride experiences.

Verdict: Engineering Meets Ambition

Falcons Flight is an engineering masterpiece. The coaster feels less like a thrill machine and more like an architectural showcase, proving what modern design is capable of when cost and geography are no longer constraints. Falcons Flight delivers. There are imperfections — the vibration in the second half and slow dispatches to name two. However, they’re minor inconveniences in an otherwise extraordinary performance.

Falcons Flight leaves a mark—not just for its incredible statistics, but for the way it makes you feel. The entire experience is spectacular. You feel like you’re soaring with a falcon as it ascends the sky and dives in pursuit of its prey. Intamin and Six Flags Qiddiya delivered on this project, and Falcons Flight alone makes Six Flags Qiddiya worth visiting.

About the Author

George Simpson is a UK based mathematician and private tutor. His interest in maths leads to a fascination with their application in theme park design and roller coaster engineering. Iron Rattler at Six Flags Qiddiya remains his #1 coaster. Follow George on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.