The first technology-theme park in the Gulf will feature a space maze and a 3-D cinema as well as an IMAX theatre and will be built on 47 hectares with financing from the public and private sectors. Zabeel Technology Theme Park is scheduled to open early next year."The municipality is spending about Dh250 million to develop the infrastructure of the park, and it has attracted over Dh300 million in investment from the private sector to develop high-tech facilities for visitors," said Salah Salem Al Qaiwani, head of investments and specialised contracts at the municipality.
Private sector investment is likely to reach Dh500 million since a number of investments are in the process of being developed.
"We are very careful in choosing private-sector projects because we want the park to be a major attraction both for residents and tourists. It will be a place for entertainment and education for people of all age groups," he said.
Zabeel Technology Theme Park was conceived and developed through a series of studies and design phases.
"It is to be the premier regional park in Dubai and will provide a themed recreation and leisure facility of international standard," he said.
"Zabeel Park will be different from other parks due to the recurring technology theme. It will provide a relaxing environment for rest and recreation as you would expect from any park, but it will also provide interesting and educational attractions."
Zabeel Park is located on three separate plots between the Trade Centre, Karama and Zabeel Road.
With an overall area of 47 hectares, the park has been designed with a technology theme to reflect the status of Dubai as a regional centre for the development of high technology and IT industries.
The park will feature a series of high-tech interactive displays, including educational and recreational exhibits grouped into three zones: alternative energy zone, communications zone and techno zone.
The park will also have a space maze modelled after the planetary system and other technology-based attractions. The park will also feature a contemporary and futuristic style that will give it an individual and vibrant character.
The infrastructure of the park will be functional and visually appealing, and will include a pedal-boat lake and lakeside restaurant; a sports centre and exhibition gallery; a minigolf course, a skateboard park and a jogging track; barbeque facilities; shaded seating and play areas and refreshment kiosks.
Alternative energy zone will offer a series of interactive exhibits demonstrating the different forms of alternative energy from water, sun and wind.
Many of the exhibits will allow park visitors to compete against each other on teams to demonstrate their effectiveness at harnessing different forms of alternative energy.
This will include racing cars that use solar power and pedal-powered hovercrafts demonstrating wind power.
Communications zone will have a number of exhibits relating to communications, including a children's musical climbing frame, a satellite gallery showing the solar system and orbiting satellites and sound dragsters that will enable teams to compete in a race using the power of their own voices.
Techno zone will offer exhibits demonstrating different technologies, including interactive cubes that will react to a presence and touch, voice-activated bumper cars that will respond to the spoken commands of the driver, a robot maze (where players try to pass through a maze without being detected by a series of robots) and robot arm wrestling.
A centrally located function area called the Mega-bowl has been designed with an amphitheatre capacity of 2,000.
Located at the summit of the hill lying on the central axis of the Megabowl is the panoramic tower, which will be 45 metres tall.
Visitors will be able to ride in a viewing platform that will climb the tower to offer a panoramic views of the park.
The park will include a grassed football area and a jogging track around the park.
The IMAX cinema will boast the latest high-fidelity, six-channel surround sound.
The lake will be the central feature of the southern portion of the park and will be filled by a stream cascading down four-metre high natural rock weirs. A fleet of pedal and rowing boats will be available for hire.
Park to be built on 47 hectares
- Zabeel Park, with an area of 47 hectares, will be located on three plots between the Trade Centre, Karama and Zabeel Road.
- The park will feature a series of high-tech interactive displays, including educational and recreational exhibits grouped into three zones: alternative energy zone, communications zone and techno zone.
- The park will also have a space maze modelled after the planetary system and other technology-based attractions.
- The park is designed with a technology theme reflecting the status of Dubai as a regional centre for the development of high technology and IT industries.
- The park will include a grassed football area and a jogging track around the park.
Gulf News
