The latest project to appear on the horizon is Xeritown, an urban complex designed to work in harmony with the environment of the region through site specific and climate sensitive architecture and planning.
Latest news from The Plantation is that the $3.5 billion 20 million-square foot project in Dubailand once completed will have only eight per sent built up area. The other 92 per sent comprised of 800 stables, five polo fields and indoor area and a health club.
The built up area will comprise of a Southern Sun five star hotel and 500 hotel serviced apartments, the apartments named The Residences, will be based on Eaton Square in Belgravia, London.
The environmental impact of the project will be offset by the use of solar powered water pumps and an on site cooling plant. The cooling plant’s recycled water will also be used on the land.
The potential 800 horse community will provide an ample supplies of an alternative power source. “The horse manure will be pelleted and used as a cooking fuel for stove burners in Africa,”
Source: kippreport.com & gulfnews.com
Restless Planet, the City of Arabia development due to open at the end of 2010, located at the gateway of Dubailand, is planned to include the world largest collection of animatronic dinosaurs.
Designer Jack Rouse is currently working on Restless Planet, which will combine theatre, drama, a variety of themed rides, shows and art with an ‘edutainment’ theme.
Dr Jack Horner is also a member of the design team, and was the real life inspiration for the book ‘Jurassic Park’, who also served as scientific consultant to Spielberg on the three movies.
Over 100 animatronic creatures, some 50 feet (15 metres) tall combined with photo real, computer generated imaging, dioramas and a litany of special effects. The exterior of the Restless Planet will be a 74 metre tall dome and massive ‘cloud’ building.
Here’s an example of what we should expect:
Source: www.gulfnews.com and www.dubairestlessplanet.com
Not exactly Theme Park news, but I’m reading about the famous waxwworks museum are planning to open in Dubai. Operated by the Merlin group Madame Tussauds currently have museums in London, New York, Las Vegas , Hong Kong, Washington DC, Amsterdam, Shanghai and Berlin.
This news comes recently after the announcement of Legoland Dubailand, which will include Lego models of regional icons including Burj Dubai, Burj Al Arab and Pyramids of Giza.
Source: arabianbusiness.com
The latest news on the Paramount Pictures development in Dubai is that they have short-listed three possible locations for the recently announced theme park.
It is expected to include resorts, shopping centres and boutique hotels and lifestyle properties in a blend of Arabian, Hollywood and Bollywood movies to create a global family entertainment.
The Dubai Dolphinarium based at Creekside Park has been confirmed as on schedule to open in the summer. News released today describes the facility will feature a water circus show, dolphin therapy, dolphin sighting excursions and lectures.
The complex will have four different types of sea-pools; the main Arena Pool, which is located in the stadium, also the Training, Medical and Sea Lions Pools, which are in the dolphins and sea lions private areas.
The Dubai Dolphinarium is part of the Dubai Marine World project that is due to include Dubai Oceanarium, Marine Science Institute, Dubai Gatorville and Dubai Fish Farm of the Future.
Update: More home videos from Dubai Dolphinariu
Six Flags Dubailand, the five million square feet multi-billion dirham theme park within the worlds largest tourism, leisure and entertainment destination, has announced the conceptual master plan has been developed.
Original post by Source
More news on Marvel Superheroes Theme Park in Dubailand. The theme park will be split into three districts: City Centrum, the HUB, and The Marvel Academy. Three of the theme park’s rides are already undergoing offsite trail runs. They are, Flying with Spidey, Fantasticar, and X-men: Danger Room
In total Marvel Dubailand will have 17 rides and attractions, nine retail outlets and over 40 refreshment outlets.
Ground breaking for Marvel Dubailand is expected to be in the first quarter of 2009 with the theme park itself due to open on 31 December 2012.
(source)
We’re getting news about 2009’s Dubai Shopping Festival. It’s Due to take place from January 15 to February 15 2009. This news was released at the same time as confirmation of the Dubai Summer Surprises another of Dubai’s main crowd pulling events.
The Festival started in 1996 as a retail event aimed to promote trade in Dubai, but in recent years it’s turned in to an annual shopping, entertainment, and cultural extravaganza that continues to promote tourism in Dubai and draws people from around the world .
In previous years the Festival has featured over 2,300 retail outlets, selling everything from gold, perfume, haute couture, cars, electronics to handicrafts and textiles.
The majority of hotels and apartments will join in by offering attractive discounts as well as running raffles for cars among other great prises, last year 72 Lexus cars, 43 Nissan cars and 32 kilos of Gold were won.
The Emirates and most other airlines flying out of Dubai even offer discounted airfares and much needed excess baggage allowances during the Dubai Shopping Festival!
No doubt more details will be published on their official web site.
We already have LEGO Theme Parks in Denmark, United Kingdom, USA and Germany, next will be Dubailand! This 3 million square-foot theme park is scheduled to open at the end of 2011 by Merlin Entertainments Group, the world’s second largest operator of visitor attractions.
Information released today says we should expect to see more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions geared towards families with children ages 2 to 12.
Hopefully we will see a sneak preview on their new web site when it goes live: www.LegoThemeParkDubai.com