Dubailand

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Dubailand logo
Dubailand logo

Dubailand is an entertainment complex under development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which is owned by Tatweer (which belongs to Dubai Holding). Construction of Dubailand has been divided into four phases. Work is currently being carried out on phase one of the project which is expected to see completion some time between 2008 and 2010.

Contents

[edit] Concept

Dubailand in March 2006
Dubailand in March 2006

Dubailand is the vision of Dubai's current ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The development is expected to be a full featured city divided into seven theme worlds. The short range goal of the Dubailand is to attract 15 million tourists to Dubai by 2010. Developers expect to accomplish this goal by creating a tourism, entertainment, and leisure destination that will attract visitors not only from surrounding countries but also from Europe and Asia. The venture is expected to attract approximately 200,000 visitors daily and cost $20 billion. Many believe Dubailand is a long-term plan to phase out the city's dependence on oil revenues, though 95% of Dubai's annual GDP comes from non-oil sectors such as tourism.

[edit] Development

The Dubailand project was officially announced on October 23, 2003. Dubailand will be built on a 3 billion square foot (278 km²/107 mile²) site and will include 45 mega projects and 200 sub projects.[1] It will be twice the size of Walt Disney World, currently the largest collection of amusement parks in the world. Private reaction towards the project has been positive and Dubai has exceeded the $4.9 billion private investment figure it expected on the entire project by collecting approximately $6 billion from the private sector for the first phase alone.

The first of four phases comprising the development of Dubailand will be completed in early 2008 since the developers decided to extend the park by 50% subsequently bumping up its completion date. Completion of the final phase is targeted for some time between 2015 and 2018. Dubailand is seen by its designers as a city and therefore like a city they expect it to continue to grow and develop beyond the four phase plan.

One of the most eagerly awaited attractions within Dubailand is the Sahara Kingdom theme park, situated in the Attractions & Experience World. Sahara Kingdom covers 460,000 m² (4,951,399 sq ft) and will combine high end virtual and physical theme park rides, attractions such as a state of the art gaming zone, IMAX theater, and integrated live and virtual entertainment shows, together with a retail zone, four hotels and residential accommodation. The theme of the development is traditional Arabia folklore and the tales of One Thousand and One Nights. Sahara Kingdom is due for completion in October 2010.

In 2008, Dreamworks announced plans to build a Dreamworks park in Dubailand.[2]

On May 6, 2008, Tatweer announced a strategic alliance with Merlin Entertainments Group to build a Legoland park in Dubailand. The project will cost Dh912 million, occupy a total of 3,000,000 sq ft (278,709 m²), and will feature more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions geared towards families with children ages 2 to 12.[3] The park will open at the end of 2011.[4]

[edit] Open attractions

A few of Dubailand's attractions are operational such as Dubai Autodrome, The Global Village and more recently the Al Sahra Desert Resort. Located in the eco-tourism section of Dubailand, the Al Sahra Desert Resort officially opened in November 2006 and is home of Dubai's first permanent outdoor show - 'Jumana - Secret of the Desert' - a show celebrating the Arabian region's history and culture, incorporating folklore themes from Persia, the Maghreb, the Levant, the Gulf region, Oman and Yemen. Performed in an open-air amphitheatre, the show incorporates various imagistic theatre techniques such as sound, laser and water effects, pyrotechnics and fireworks; 60 dancers and acrobats, camels and horses, complement the cast; Omar Sharif is the voice of the narrator. Al Sahra also offers a traditional crafts souk and various attractions such as camel treks, horse rides, donkey-cart rides to enjoy in the dunescape.

[edit] Seven Zones (Worlds)

  • Attractions & Experience World 13 km² (5.2 mile²)
  • Retail and Entertainment World 4 km² (1.6 mile²)
    • Flea Market
    • World Trade Park
    • Auction World
    • Factory Outlets
  • Themed Leisure and Vacation World 29 km² (11.2 mile²)
    • Women's World (LEMNOS) [5]
    • Destination Dubai
    • Desert Kingdom
    • Andalusian Resort and Spa
  • Eco-Tourism World 75 km² (28.9 mile²)
    • Al Sahra Desert Resort
    • Sand Dune Hotel
    • Al Kaheel
    • Bio World
    • Animal World
  • Sports and Outdoor World 19 km² (7.4 mile²)
  • Downtown 1.8 km² (0.7 mile²)
  • Science and Planetariums
    • Space Academy

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dubailand - TEN Real Estate
  2. ^ DreamWorks to set up theme park in Dubai - ArabianBusiness.com
  3. ^ [1]- gulfnews.com
  4. ^ [http://www.7days.ae/en/2008/05/07/building-in-dubai.html - 7days.ae
  5. ^ Dubailand Sub-developments - TEN Real Estate

[edit] External links

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Developments in Dubai, proposed or under construction
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See also

Coordinates: 25°05′N, 55°18′E