Short piece on Universal Studios Dubailand in the Orlando Sentinel:
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.
In it’s attempt to be biggest in everything, developers in Dubai are now set to construct the world’s largest LED off of a commercial tower in the Majan district of Dubailand.
Tiger Woods has unveiled the master play for The Tiger Woods Dubai. It will be the first golf course designed by him, called Al-Ruwaya, will be a 7,800 yard, par 72, 18 hole course. The complex is being built on 55 million square feet of desert.
As well as the “State of the art” golf academy The Tiger Woods Dubai will also include a luxury boutique hotel as well as 22 palaces, 75 mansions and 100 villas. The complex is due for completion in 2009.
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,”
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.
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.
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.
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.
