Legoland Dubai

The proposed Legoland project in Dubai is a partnership between UK-based attractions operator Merlin Entertainments Group and Dubailand developers Tatweer. It was originally scheduled to open in 2011.

The developers behind it have insisted the project will still go ahead despite delays brought about by the global economic slowdown.

“Given the current situation in the region work on the project has been delayed, but both Merlin and our local partners remain entirely committed to building a Legoland Park in Dubai,” a spokesperson from Merlin told Arabian Business this week.

Can anyone confirm if they are actively building on the site?

Closeup of archway logo

More images here.

Part one

Part Two

Part Three

SEGA Republic

Opening soon in The Dubai Mall is SEGA Republic an indoor theme park. This the largest SEGA Republic in the middle East features five zones including:

Speed Zone

• Sonic Hopper a freefall drop ride
• Storm-G
• Initial D4 Limited
• Outrun 2 Special Tours SDX

Sports Zone

• Halfpipe Canyon a 7 meter high snowboarding halfpipe

Adventure Zone

• Spin Gear a full-scale indoor horizontal spinning-coaster (more details below)
• Wild Wing an ‘extreme adventure’ motion simulated ride
• Wild Jungle a ‘close up’ motion simulated ride
• Let’s Go Jungle! Special

Cyberpop Zone

• Gaming area containing 250 Amusement games

Redemption Zones

• A themed arcade and gaming zone where tickets can be won and redeemed for a large range of merchandise.

Spin Gear Update: “The themed ride tells a story based around the evil plans of Dr. Eggman, who is Sonic the Hedgehog’s arch nemesis. Dr. Eggman has taken over an old factory facility and has developed a prototype weapon, SPIN GEAR, for capturing Sonic the Hedgehog. Now all he needs are ‘test subjects’ and there is only way to escape his evil plans – on a rollercoaster ride that will have everyone’s head spinning.”

F1-X Dubai

News has just come in that the first F1-X theme park in Dubai which was due to be opened at the end of this year has been delayed until “at least” 2010.

The F1 theme park project is more than 50% complete, is due to be spread over 70 acres and feature 13 major rides and attractions. It will have four main areas, F1-X Dubai, Dubai Autodrome and Uptown MotorCity and Green Community MotorCity, the latter being residential areas. A 242 room Marriott Coutryyard Hotel is also planned.

Dubai Cookie Monster

The building of a Sesame Street themed themepark has just been announced.

The project main feature will be Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic, a 400-seat theatre using motion based technology will allow guests to not only see and hear this remarkable attraction, but also simultaneously be immersed in the feelings and smells of the action right from their own seats.

A Sesame Street themed carousel and live stage show will also be produced. Finally Elmo’s Emporium will be open for anyone wanting to purchase a “Tickle me elmo” or any other Sesame Street merchandise.

Dubai is aggressively targeting the family market and aims to topple Florida from its spot as the theme park capital of the world.

Development is centred around the massive Dubailand complex, with offerings from DreamWorks (in mid-2012), Six Flags (mid-2011), and Nickelodeon and Marvel Entertainment (late 2012/2013) on the cards, supported by more than 50 hotels planned for the Bawadi area.

Other future openings include Universal City by Universal Studios (late 2010), which will be one of the world’s largest theme parks, complete with 4,000 luxury hotel rooms, shopping facilities and 100 restaurants.

A three million square foot version of Legoland will open in late 2011, while Anheuser-Busch plans to open four theme parks, including a SeaWorld, and US film studios Paramount Pictures and Warner Brothers are also partnering with local developers
on theme park projects.

Other upcoming attractions include The Great Dubai Wheel, which will enable visitors to see for up to 50 kilometres; The Emirates Planetarium, which will include a 3-D theatre, laser shows, a planetarium, a museum and a hotel; and the Falcon City of Wonders (2009-12), which will feature replicas of the wonders of the ancient and modern worlds.

The emirate’s second Snow Dome will open at Dubailand next year.

Meanwhile, the massive shopping centre Dubai Mall, which opened on November 4 and is equal to the size of 50 football pitches, features the Sega Republic indoor theme park and the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink.

Tiger Woody

The 19th (and some say most important) hole in The Tiger Woods Dubai project has been officially started:

The sub-structure of the clubhouse, including foundation, retaining walls and columns for its basement levels, are now complete and well on its way to welcoming members and visitors from late 2009.

In other news, I read that:

Most of the 11,000 trees required for the golf course have been procured, while approximately 350 mature trees have already been planted on the course.

Source

The Universal Studios Dubailand under development in the United Arab Emirates will become the world’s first “air-conditioned theme park,” according to Tom Williams, chairman and chief executive officer of Orlando-based Universal Parks & Resorts, which is planning the resort. Universal noted that the park is being developed so that 80 percent to 90 percent of the guest experience will be in climate-controlled areas. It is expected to open in 2010 in the UAE boomtown of Dubai, where high temperatures can exceed 100 degrees all summer long. “We’re very excited about our new resort property in Dubai,” Williams told the Orlando Sentinel. “It will be the world’s first air-conditioned theme park and offers the guests the very best and pleasant outdoor experience the year-around.”

The long wait for the Stargate Theme Park is finally set to get over. The Dh280 million family edutainment facility, currently being built at the Zaabeel Park [map below], will open its doors for the public in March [2009], Dubai Municipality announced on Monday

The edutainment centre has been designed to mix education and family entertainment, covering an area of 260,000 square feet. It is being constructed in the form of a spaceship, created around two characters called Ajeeb and Gareeb, whose ship lands heavily in Zabeel Park.

Dubai Stargate Theme Park

Children from the ages of four to 14 will be most suited to the attraction, with the main displays spread across five ‘domes of fun’, including 3D games.

This includes high-speed electric Go-Karting, a family rollercoaster called ‘spinning earth’ and virtual rides. Other attractions include the Children’s Academy, Bermuda Triangle of high-tech mazes and a ‘Space Mall’ designed for children.