One of the tallest roller coasters in the region will have its home in Qatar, with the first shipment of a section of the steel structure on its way, the manufacturer has announced.
Within the currently under-construction mixed-use complex, Doha Oasis, on Al Khaleej St/B-Ring Road, the 60m-high structure will be the centrepiece of a new underground mall and theme park that will include more than two dozen different rides.
US-based Premier Rides has started work on the steel structure and announced last week that the first shipment of a section of its steel rail structure is Qatar-bound from Los Angeles, Doha News reported.
The entire frame will be transported in around 100 shipments over the coming two months, the company said.
Jim Seay, president of Premier Rides, described in a statement to industry website inpark Magazine, that the ride as an “iconic 60m tall, fully-enclosed roller coaster tower that will allow riders a spectacular view of the city while remaining in a controlled climate setting.”
He also described the rollercoaster as a “dark-ride” with special acoustic and lighting effects to create optical illusions for passengers.
While the theme park has yet to be revealed, its manufacturers described the rollercoaster as a “reverse magnetic launch” ride.
Initially named ‘Dragonfire’ when the agreement was first announced in 2014, the roller coaster was described as one of the largest and most sophisticated attractions built by Premier Rides.
At the time, Seay described to the US media how the ride would have a backwards launch up a ‘spike’ outside the building, affording riders a spectacular birds-eye view of the area before dropping back down.
“This signature attraction will be a phenomenal thrill ride,” he added.
Included in the Doha Oasis development is a 29-story hotel with 133 guest suites, six restaurants and a basket of amenities.
According to main contractor Redco Construction-Al Mana, the complex is over 470,000m².
It will also include 14 nine-story buildings with penthouses and 245 apartments, alongside shops in a mall that covers the top two floors of a podium area, overlooking the indoor theme park.
Scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2018, work began on the site in December 2014 by Halul Real Estate Investment Co.
