A Dolphinarium and edutainment facilities will open in January as part of Dubai Marine World.
The project, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East with a total estimated investment of Dh205 million is being developed at Dubai Creek Park.
Dubai Municipality has joined with private sector company Royal Segrex, based in British Virgin Islands, to develop the project as part of its initiative to involve private firms in setting up various long-term investment projects in the emirate.
Dubai Marine World will include a Dolphinarium, a Fish Farm, a Gatorville, a research and therapy centre and a Coral Reef Aquarium.
"This large and ambitious project will be spread over a total area of 19,000 square metres and is expected to be another educational and tourist attraction both for residents and tourists," said Eisa Al Maidour, director of Contracts and Purchasing Department at Dubai Municipality. He was speaking at the unveiling of the project at a press conference yesterday at Dubai Municipality.
The Dolphinarium will be the first facility to be opened in January as phase one of the project. It will include a water circus show, dolphin therapy, dolphin sighting excursions, lectures and educational programmes for children. Christopher Richardson, general manager of Royal Segrex said the Dolphinarium will have a Marine Mammal Education Centre led by a team of marine mammal scientists and dolphin specialists.
"The centre will offer various lectures and shows introducing both children and adults to the nature and habitat of these amazing intelligent mammals and how we can learn and help preserve the species of dolphins that exist in Gulf waters," he said.
Another programme is swimming with dolphins, which will allow people to swim supervised for 10 to 30 minutes with a dolphin.
Dolphinarium will have a shaded stadium and be able to accommodate 1,500 people. There will be a dedicated veterinarian and personal trainer for each dolphin.
Treatment for autistic children
As part of the community welfare programmes, Dubai Marine World will work with autism institutions and offer helpful activities to physically and mentally challenged children.
"We will offer dolphin therapy, which is becoming popular for the treatment of autism and learning disorders of young children," said Christopher Richardson, general manager of Royal Segrex, which will run the centre. Research done around the world, he said, showed that dolphin therapy really is beneficial for children with learning disabilities.
He said that there would be doctors who will check the children before treatment. The children will spend sometime with dolphins under the supervision of trainers, who will instruct dolphins how to handle the child.
Gulf News
