Sunday, Dec 18, 2016

Dubai: Three years after construction began at the Dubai Parks and Resorts, the Dh13 billion attraction was officially inaugurated on Sunday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Located in Jebel Ali, close to the Expo 2020 site, the inauguration was attended by media from around the world, celebrities and officials. Two hundred children from the Awqaf and Minor Affairs Foundation and the Make A Wish Foundation were also invited to the event, which saw a special show performed by dancers and actors from the attraction’s various parks.

Spread over 2.8 million square metres and consisting of three main theme parks — Legoland Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai and Motiongate Dubai — the project has seen a phased opening, starting with Riverland Dubai, the central attraction that connects all the parks, on October 31.

Shaikh Mohammad, whose directive it was to launch the project, had earlier toured the park on October 29, saying the project would become a cultural and tourist landmark that would elevate the UAE’s position as a regional and global family entertainment and tourism destination.

Legoland Dubai is part of a themed chain of parks inspired by the popular construction toys, while Bollywood Parks Dubai is a first-of-its-kind attraction dedicated to everything Bollywood.

Motiongate Dubai is inspired by Hollywood movies and will feature attractions and content from DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and The Smurfs.

Riverland Dubai, the ‘reception’ area for all the parks, is itself a themed area with hundreds of dining options and a river at its centre. Visitors can also stay at the Lapita Hotel, a Polynesian-themed resort, managed by the Marriott Group.

Alan Menken, the Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award-winning composer behind the scores of classic films such as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast and Sister Act, was drafted in to write the theme song, All the Wonders of the Universe, which was performed at the opening.

“It was irresistible,” Menken told Gulf News tabloid! in an earlier interview, about writing the song. “I just imagined how a magical theme park might spring to life in the middle of the desert.”

This is just the first phase of Dubai Parks and Resorts, which is expected to be fully built by 2019.

Six Flags Dubai, part of the world’s largest amusement park chain headquartered in Texas, will be the fourth theme park to open. Estimated to cost Dh2.6 billion, it will feature 27 rides and attractions across six zones.

“We are very proud of the destination we have created for the UAE and its visitors, and thank our partners, guests and shareholders for their support of this complex and unique destination,” said Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, chief executive officer of DXB Entertainments, the company that operates Dubai Parks and Resorts, ahead of its opening day.

Fun facts about the Dubai Parks and Resorts

- More than 200 performers using 1,200-plus costumes will perform daily at Jaan-E-Jigar, the Broadway-style musical at Rajmahal Theatre inside Bollywood Parks Dubai.

- Bollywood hits Don, Lagaan, Sholay, Krrish, RA.One, Dabangg, Rock On!! and Zindagi Na Milegi Na Dobara will feature in 3D and 4D experiences, as well as interactive live performances, inside Bollywood Parks Dubai.

- It’s free to go to Riverland Dubai, the 234,000 square feet reception area of the Dubai Parks and Resorts. Covering four main zones, this attraction that connects all the parks, will have more than 57 restaurants, including licensed ones, each fitting in with the zones. There will be banks, a spa and food and services kiosks. There’s also four event spaces, including three outdoor and a large indoor multi-purpose venue for celebrations, parties and meetings.

- The 17-metre high Burj Khalifa Lego model inside the Miniland in Legoland took 439,000 Lego bricks to create and more than 5,000 hours to assemble. It also features a miniature fountain show — complete with lights and music — at its base. It is also the world’s tallest Lego building, naturally.

- Legoland Dubai covers a total area of three million square feet and features more than 40 interactive rides, shows, attractions and Lego building experiences. There are currently 15,000 Lego model structures in the theme park.

- Legoland Dubai was the most trending destination in the UAE in 2016, according to data released by Google.

- Motiongate Dubai will feature 27 key rides and attractions inspired by Hollywood blockbusters such as Ghostbusters, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Smurfs and The Hunger Games. There will also be live entertainment, such as the Step Up: All In show.

- Entry to each theme park is priced separately, a one-day pass to Bollywood Parks Dubai, for instance, starts at Dh285. But visitors can also buy a hopper pass, which gives access to all theme parks, starting at Dh295. Go to dubaiparksandresorts.com.

By David Tusing tabloid! Editor

Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.