His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai officially inaugurated the Dh13 billion Dubai Parks and Resorts yesterday, Sunday 18th December.
Accompanying Shaikh Mohammad were Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior together with other senior officials.
The Dubai Parks and Resorts site is in Jebel Ali, close to the Expo 2020 site.
The inauguration was attended by the world’s press. Alongside them were with two hundred children from the Awqaf and Minor Affairs Foundation and the Make A Wish Foundation. Attendees witnessed live entertainment performed by dancers and actors from the resort’s different theme parks.
Bollywood star “lookalikes” of movie stars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan danced to their popular songs.
Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award-winning composer Alan Menken performed the attraction’s theme tune, All the Wonders of the Universe, with his daughter Anna Rose. Menken had written the song for Dubai Parks and Resorts. His portfilio includes the scores of the hugely popular Disney films Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas and Beauty and the Beast.
After the half hour Gala, there was an enormous fireworks display.
Dubai Parks and Resorts; the 3 Parks
With a footprint of around 2.8 million square metres Dubai Parks and Resorts comprises three main theme parks. These are Legoland Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai and Motiongate Dubai. The development has a phased opening, with Riverland Dubai, the central hub connecting all the parks, open on October 31.
Shaikh Mohammed, is optimisitc about the resort and its impact. He says it will become a cultural and tourist landmark that will elevate the UAE’s position as both a regional and global tourism and family entertainment destination.
Legoland Dubai is a theme park inspired by the popular toy. Bollywood Parks Dubai is a unique attraction focused on the Indian film industry.
Motiongate Dubai is a movie-themed park. It will showcase attractions and characters major studios and IPs. These include Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and DreamWorks Animation. Riverland Dubai is the ‘reception’ or “atrium” area serving all the parks. It is a themed area with hundreds of restaurants and cafes and a river in the middle. Park guests can stay at the Polynesian-themed Lapita Hotel, which is managed by the Marriott Group.
Six Flags the Fourth
This is just the first phase of Dubai Parks and Resorts, which is expected to be complete by 2019. The fourth theme park to open will be Six Flags Dubai. Costing in the region of Dh2.6 billion, the new theme park will feature 27 rides and attractions across six zones. Forrec will be the lead design consultant.
“We are very proud of the destination we have created for the UAE and its visitors. We thank our partners, guests and shareholders for their support of this complex and unique destination, ” said Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi (above), the chief executive officer of DXB Entertainments, the company that operates Dubai Parks and Resorts.
https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/leisure/dubai-parks-and-resorts-officially-inaugurated-1.1948057
