DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Theme park chain Six Flags Entertainment Corp. says it is in “discussions” with Saudi Arabia to pursue developing amusement parks in the ultraconservative Sunni kingdom.

The announcement early Wednesday morning by the Grand Prairie, Texas-based company comes after Dubai in the United Arab Emirates announced the day before it would call for an “exception to the destination’s (Persian Gulf) exclusivity clause with (the) American theme park operator.”

Officials in Dubai hope to open a Six Flags theme park by late 2019.

The Six Flags push in Saudi Arabia comes after its officials met with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of King Salman.

Six Flags offered no specifics on the discussions with Saudi Arabia, which strictly separates sexes in public and follows an extremely conservative view of Islam.