ALMERIA BRINGS ITS RIDE INSTALLATION EXPERTISE TO SEAWORLD AND SIX FLAGS PARKS IN THE UAE AND SAUDI ARABIA
by Joe Kleiman
As the Middle East accelerates its investment in world-class themed entertainment, the scale and complexity of new attractions are reaching unprecedented levels. Delivering those experiences requires more than innovative ride design. It demands installation partners with deep construction expertise, rigorous safety standards, and the ability to operate in extreme environments.
Over the past several years, Almeria has emerged as a key player meeting that challenge. The company has been responsible for installing landmark attractions at SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi and Six Flags Qiddiya City, working closely with manufacturers, developers, and contractors to bring some of the region’s most ambitious rides to life.
“At the end of the day, the right installation comes down to precision,” says Karim Malaeb, Managing Partner at Almeria. “You have to consider every factor, not just how the ride performs for the guest, but how it will operate and endure over its entire lifespan.”
From construction roots to attractions specialization
Almeria’s story emerges from the construction legacy of International Décor & Contracting (IDC), a UAE-based specialized contracting and fit-out firm founded in 1983 by Karim’s father Majid Malaeb. For over forty years, IDC has delivered complex projects across aviation, healthcare, hospitality, and culture, including Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and the recently opened teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island.
“IDC was the foundation of our construction background in the UAE,” Malaeb explains. “My father founded the company and he still plays an active role today as a leader and visionary within the business.”
Almeria
IDC’s entry into themed entertainment came with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, the region’s first indoor Warner Bros.-branded theme park. That project introduced the company to the unique demands of attractions construction, where structural precision, creative intent, and operational performance must align seamlessly.
“Warner Bros. World was really a steppingstone into the attractions industry,” Malaeb says. “Developers were keen to see what further services we could deliver at those same standards.”
Recognizing the opportunity, the team established Almeria as a specialized service focused on ride installation and attractions delivery, leveraging IDC’s construction expertise while building dedicated technical and operational capabilities for the entertainment sector.
“We knew our clients had the same high expectations they were used to with IDC,” Malaeb says. “So we took our extensive construction background, combined it with strong technical expertise, and pushed a specialized new service to the market.”
Managing complexity through collaboration
Large-scale attraction projects involve a wide network of stakeholders, from creative consultants and project management teams to ride manufacturers, main contractors, and client representatives. Almeria operates as a specialist contractor within that ecosystem, coordinating closely with all parties to ensure installations meet both creative and technical requirements.
“It’s always a group effort,” Malaeb says. “We work with the creative consultants to ensure the finished product meets their expectations, with the Project Management Consultant overseeing the work with the main contractor, and with the client’s representatives. There’s a lot of planning and managing involved to achieve what you ultimately see on site.”
That collaborative approach was critical at SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest indoor marine life theme park and adopted on many attractions Almeria was involved in. Over the past few years, Almeria installed a wide range of attractions across the UAE, including several from notable manufacturers Zamperla and Intamin. The company led the installation of a large-scale dome simulation ride, a custom indoor/outdoor triple-launch coaster, and expansive mega soft play structures – along with performing maintenance and refurbishment work on other attractions.
Precision inside and out at indoor theme parks
Erecting rides indoors presents unique challenges. On of the theme parks, Almeria was involved in, Massive steel structures had to be assembled within confined spaces while coordinating with façade installation, theming, and building systems. Sequencing was essential, particularly when ride components needed to be installed before roof closures limited access.
“You’re dealing with very restricted spaces, but at the same time you’re building massive structures,” Malaeb says. “That required a high level of coordination between many different parties.”
Desert temperatures can significantly affect installation procedures, particularly when it comes to bolting and re-torquing. “There are specific temperature ranges recommended by manufacturers for activities like torquing,” Malaeb explains. “Those conditions have to be respected, especially before final re-torquing after the ride has been running.”
Environmental exposure also demands immediate inspection protocols. To manage these risks, Almeria develops detailed installation methodologies and risk assessments in advance, based on manufacturer recommendations and site conditions. “Our planning allows us to foresee and prepare for every possible installation scenario,” Malaeb says. “That’s how we mitigate risks and avoid delays.”
Pushing limits at Six Flags Qiddiya City
At Six Flags Qiddiya City, Almeria’s work reached new extremes with the installation of two Intamin attractions that opened in December 2025: Falcon’s Flight and the Spitfire triple-launch coaster, which features the world’s tallest inversion.
Falcon’s Flight, designed to set new world records, required extensive planning and risk assessment. While the ride design itself did not change during construction, the installation methodology was critical. “You can imagine the challenges of hanging at 170 meters in midair to put a camelback into place,” Malaeb says. “Several sections alone weighed over 20 tons, and were installed in single lifts.”
Every lift was calculated and reviewed by third-party specialists, with wind speed, alignment, and safety continuously monitored by all stakeholders. “Everything was overseen by the client, the contractor, our team, and independent inspectors,” Malaeb says.
Wind conditions in the desert frequently forced schedule changes. “There were many nights when we had to postpone installations because of high wind speeds,” Malaeb says. To reduce time spent working at height, Almeria collaborated with Intamin and the client to preassemble major components on the ground before lifting them into place. “That allowed us to minimize the hanging time,” Malaeb explains. “When that last piece fit in, it was a great feeling. It was a major milestone for everyone involved.”
A turnkey approach to ride installation
Almeria’s value in the region lies in its turnkey approach to ride installation. The company manages logistics, surveying, methodology development, risk assessment, and execution, ensuring manufacturer requirements are met and inspection approvals are achieved efficiently.
“We use our own in-house electrical and mechanical technicians, project managers, and riggers,” Malaeb says. “That’s how we ensure constant quality delivery.”
Decades of construction experience in the UAE further strengthen that capability. “Those 43 years in the construction business add real value for our clients,” Malaeb says.
Feedback from ride manufacturers has reinforced Almeria’s reputation. In a message from Intamin’s roller coaster team, the manufacturer praised the “high work quality” of Almeria’s installation teams and the “constructive communication and cooperation” throughout the project.
Building what comes next
As the Middle East continues its rapid expansion into large-scale, technologically advanced themed entertainment, the expectations placed on ride installation partners are only increasing. Projects are becoming taller, faster, heavier, and more integrated with architecture, media systems, and extreme site conditions, demanding a level of precision that leaves little margin for error. For Almeria, that evolution aligns directly with the company’s DNA.
“Our focus has always been on being prepared before we ever step on site,” says Malaeb. “That means understanding the manufacturer’s requirements, developing the right methodology, and planning every scenario in advance. When you’re working at these scales, preparation is everything.”
The installations at SeaWorld Yas Island and Six Flags Qiddiya City have positioned Almeria at the forefront of the region’s most ambitious attractions, not simply as an installer, but as a trusted technical partner capable of translating bold creative vision into operational reality. “We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved so far,” Malaeb says. “But more importantly, we’re excited about what’s coming next.” •
MEMORIA EXPANDS THE INTEGRATED OFFERING
IDC’s & Almeria’s growth in themed entertainment continues through Memoria, a joint venture with Lagotronics Projects providing professional AV integration for media-based attractions in the UAE. “IDC was our first foray into the entertainment industry, and Almeria followed as a ride installation service,” Malaeb says. “As we became more involved in theme parks, we saw that Lagotronics shared the same belief in quality delivery.”
Today, IDC, Almeria, and Memoria offer complementary capabilities, from specialized contracting and ride installation to advanced audiovisual systems. “Each company offers something different, but together we can bring all these specialized capabilities under one roof,” Malaeb says. “That puts us in a strong position to take on any new and challenging concepts moving forward.”
