The year 2016 will go down in the history of Dubai as the year when multiple new destinations opened within the city limits to propel exponential visitor growth. Dubai has already welcomed the world’s largest indoor theme park and a tropical rainforest complete with 3,000 species of wildlife. The Middle East’s largest multi-themed leisure and entertainment destination is also on the brink of debut.
IMG WORLDS OF ADVENTURE
IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world’s largest indoor theme park, owned by the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group and managed by IMG Worlds, opened in Dubai on August 31 this year. Spanning 1.5 million square feet, equivalent to 28 football fields, IMG Worlds of Adventure is the first global theme park to bring international brands Marvel and Cartoon Network together, in addition to two proprietary brands IMG Boulevard and Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure. IMG Worlds of Adventure will also feature a unique array of roller coasters and attractions, complemented by 28 food and beverage, and 25 retail outlets.
Lennard Otto, chief executive officer of IMG Worlds of Adventure, said: 'We are excited about launching the world’s largest indoor theme park which will be a major tourism attraction for Dubai, the surrounding regions and the rest of the world. We have partnered with some of the biggest global brands in the industry, including Marvel and Cartoon Network and we have secured exceptional sponsors. We have developed many spectacular one-of-a-kind rides and attractions and we are now completing the final touches.'
Tickets for entry to the park can be purchased at www.IMGworlds.com with adult ticket prices set at Dh300 ($82) and children at Dh250 ($68). Ultimate Fast Track passes are an additional Dh195 ($53) with Fast Track 3 shots passes at Dh125 ($34). Two-day passes will be available for Dh500 ($136) for adults and Dh400 ($108) for children. Annual passes for the park can be purchased for Dh2,495 ($680).
DUBAI PARKS AND RESORTS
Early last month, Dubai Parks and Resorts also announced daily ticket prices for the theme park destination, which is set to open on the 31st of this month. Pre-purchased standard adult tickets will range from Dh240 ($66) to Dh330 ($90) for a one-day single park ticket, and will range from Dh480 ($130) to Dh890 ($242) for a multiple parks multiple day’ ticket.
Dubai Parks and Resorts will become the Middle East’s largest multi-themed leisure and entertainment destination comprising three separate theme parks: Motiongate Dubai, a Hollywood movie inspired theme park concept; Legoland Dubai, the first Legoland theme park in the Middle East; and Bollywood Parks Dubai, a first-of-its-kind theme park that will showcase the authentic Bollywood movie experience. It will also host the Legoland Water Park, the region’s first water park catering to families with children aged 2-12. Expected to open in late 2019, Six Flags Dubai will be destination’s fourth theme park and the regions first Six Flags themed park.
The entire destination will be connected by Riverland Dubai – a uniquely themed retail and dining destination at the heart of Dubai Parks and Resorts, and guests can stay at the Lapita Hotel, a Polynesian themed family hotel part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
The large-scale Dh13.2 billion ($3.5 billion) development is spread across 30.6 million square feet of land located on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite the Palm Jebel Ali in Dubai equidistant to Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airports. About 6.7 million ticketed visits are expected in 2017, the first full year of operations.
The Green Planet on Meraas’s Citywalk project in Dubai may not be built at the same scale or budget as the above themed destinations, but it scores high points with its unique proposition of housing a tropical rainforest, complete with 3,000 species of flora and fauna. The Green Planet, the region’s first bio-dome that recreates a tropical forest, opened on September 1 this year.
By a Staff Reporter