Qatar Entertainment City (QEC), the mixed-use development in Lusail, Qatar announced on Friday in a signing ceremony between Oryx Holdings, a Qatari based diversified group, and Six Flags, Inc., one of the largest, most widely recognized theme park operators in the world, that a Six Flags branded location will be open within QEC by mid-year 2012. The signing ceremony took place at the Four Seasons Hotel, Qatar, attended by Assam Shaikh - Vice chairman and managing director, Oryx Holdings; Mark Shapiro - president and chief executive officer, Six Flags; and Yousef Darwish - general manager, QEC. Under the agreement, Six Flags will provide concept development and planning services to Oryx Holdings for the creation of a 50,000 square meter (500,000 square ft) Six Flags branded location within QEC. Once this initial phase is finalized, Six Flags and Oryx Holdings will collaborate on the detailed design, development, construction and management of the branded location. Assam Shaikh said “Six Flags brings 47 years of theme park industry experience and a world renowned entertainment brand to create a best in class tourist destination within QEC. The partnership will help further establish and push Qatar's initiatives for family tourism, attracting investments as well as keeping in-line with its growing economy. For the implementation, Qatari resources will be sought in all elements of the project as and when available.” Shapiro said “extending the Six Flags footprint beyond Dubai represents another strategic step in our international expansion and further solidifies our reputation as a world-wide leader in family entertainment. We are thrilled to be on the ground floor of what will surely be a treasured destination.” Fawaz Ali Al Jowder - deputy CEO, Abu Dhabi Investment House, said”Six Flags and Oryx Holdings complement ADIH's vision for this unique development and establishing Qatar as the next best tourist destination on a regional level. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Qatari authorities and all those responsible to help ADIH deliver on its promise in partnering with the most qualified experts and creating unique investment opportunities throughout.” QEC is the first project being implemented under the “Entertainment City” concept - developed by Abu Dhabi Investment House. The project is a holistic, fully integrated family entertainment destination covering a total area of 1 million square meters of development and 180,000 square meters of international leisure, retail entertainment and restaurants situated with a waterfront location. __
