UAE: Dubai Parks & Resorts Theme Park Complex: Construction Progresses

The new theme park complex Dubai Parks and Resorts, which is currently under construction, is estimated to meet the scheduled opening date in October this year. Located on Sheikh Zayes Road in Dubai, the new 232 hectare complex will feature motiongate™ and Bollywood Parks™ Dubai, both operated by Parques Reunidos (cf. EAP News from November 10, 2014), as well as Merlin Entertainments’ seventh LEGOLAND^® park worldwide (cf. EAP News from October 17, 2014), including a connected water park. The Riverland™ Dubai shopping and entertainment area and the Lapita™ hotel will round off the offer.

Recently, Dubai Parks and Resorts announced that 100 percent of the design, 88 percent of overall facilities structure works and 70 percent of the infrastructure for the new 10.5 billon AED (around 2.6 billion EUR) entertainment complex have been completed. Following the installation of the “Dragon” rollercoaster, the complex’s first ride, at LEGOLAND^® in October last year, the park’s first LEGO figure has recently been delivered. Weighing over half a ton, the gigantic animated Red Dragon consists of more than 230,000 LEGO bricks. Furthermore, Dubai Parks and Resorts’ CEO Raed Al Nuaimi announced that the three theme parks will feature a total of 45 skill games delivered, amongst other companies, by HB Leisure. The entertainment complex is expected to welcome 6.7 million visitors in its first full year of operation with projected revenues of 2.4 billion AED (594 million EUR). (eap)