Western companies are forging ahead with massive development projects across the Middle East despite escalating tensions with Iran. In Saudi Arabia, the Six Flags Qiddiya City theme park opened in December featuring the world's fastest, tallest and longest roller coaster, the Falcons Flight. The $8 billion Qiddiya entertainment complex sits less than an hour from Riyadh and represents one of the region's biggest bets on tourism and leisure.

Nearby attractions include Sirocco Tower, the world's tallest drop-tower ride, along with a Formula One racetrack, soccer stadium and esports venue under construction. These developments aim to transform the kingdom into a luxury destination, moving beyond its traditional association with oil and regional conflict. The projects reflect Saudi Arabia's broader Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on petroleum exports.

Real estate analysts note the inherent risks of developing entertainment hubs in a volatile region. As Jan Freitag of CoStar observed, these attractions are 'only a drone flight away from a major hot spot.' Yet companies continue investing billions in what they see as long-term opportunities in the Gulf's growing consumer markets.