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Dubailand

Not to be confused with Dubai World or Dubai Land Department.

Dubailand logo

Dubailand was an entertainment complex planned to be built in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which was owned by Tatweer (which belongs to Dubai Holding). When announced in 2003 it was one of the most ambitious leisure developments ever proposed anywhere in the world costing $64.3 billion.[1] The development was put on hold in 2008, due to the 2007–2008 financial crisis, Great Recession, and the Dubai housing crash in 2009, but resumed in mid-2013. Updates in 2013 showed that $55 billion had been raised towards the works.

Some projects were cancelled, although Dubailand has since become the name of an entertainment district in Dubai where some of the planned projects for the Dubailand complex have opened. Other projects are being built and are planned to open in 2025.[2]

Development

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The Dubailand site office and showroom of the sales center, 7 March 2006

Dubailand was announced on 23 October 2003. It would have an area of 278 km2 (107 sq mi), twice the size of Walt Disney World, and comprise 45 "mega projects" and 200 sub projects.[3] Over the years, there were 22 projects under construction.[4] Dubailand was divided into six zones (worlds): Attractions and Experience World, Sports and Outdoor World, Eco-Tourism World, Themed Leisure and Vacation World, Retail and Entertainment World, and Downtown,[5] the largest collection of theme parks in the world.

The Sahara Kingdom theme park, situated in the Attractions & Experience World, would cover 460,000 m2 (4,951,399 sq ft) and would combine high end virtual and physical theme park rides, attractions such as a state of the art gaming zone, IMAX theater, and integrated live and virtual entertainment shows, together with a retail zone, four hotels and residential accommodations. The theme of the development was traditional Arabian folklore and the tales of One Thousand and One Nights.

In 2006, planning permission was granted for the Great Dubai Wheel, a 185-metre tall (607 ft) giant Ferris wheel with 30 passenger capsules, to be built and managed by the Great Wheel Corporation. It was expected to open in 2009, at a cost of over AED 250 million.[6] In January 2012, it was announced that the Great Dubai Wheel would not be built.[7]

In 2008, most of the developments in Dubailand were put on hold and virtually all of the staff and workforce were fired due to the 2007–2008 financial crisis.[8]

On 19 January 2008, DreamWorks announced plans to build a theme park in Dubailand.[9]

On 4 March 2008, Tatweer announced a strategic alliance with Six Flags to build the 5,000,000 sq ft (460,000 m2) Six Flags Dubailand theme park.

On 1 May 2008, Tatweer announced the launch of Freej Dubailand. Freej Dubailand would boast hotels totalling 2,600 keys, and feature retail, food and beverage outlets, as well as a spectrum of entertainment attractions.[10]

On 2 May 2008, it was announced that the design and conceptual master plan for a Marvel Superheroes theme park had been finalized, the first of its kind. It would have included 17 rides and attractions on a 4,500,000 sq ft (420,000 m2) development. It would also comprise nine retail outlets on an area of 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2). Over 40 food and beverage outlets, including carts merchandising light refreshments, would be developed over 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2).[11][12]

On 6 May 2008, Tatweer announced a strategic alliance with Merlin Entertainments Group to build a Legoland park in Dubailand. The project would have cost AED 912 million, occupy a total of 3,000,000 sq ft (278,709 m2), and would feature more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions geared towards families with children ages 2 to 12.[13]

At this point, Dubai Properties Group took over Dubailand from Tatweer. American park franchises Six Flags and DreamWorks announced having dropped their projects, citing loss of interest.

In September 2012, Dubai Properties Group announced the revival of the Mudon residential community project, estimating the completion of the project at around 18 months.[14]

Construction on the site resumed in early 2013, with the 72,000 square metres (780,000 sq ft) Dubai Miracle Gardens opening at the beginning of March.[15] The adjacent 2,600 square metres (28,000 sq ft) Dubai Butterfly Garden opened in 2015.[16]

In October 2016, Legoland Dubai was opened at Dubai Parks and Resorts, 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Dubailand.[17] In December 2016, Motiongate Dubai, which incorporates DreamWorks' attractions, opened at Dubai Parks and Resorts.

Zones

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This list includes both places that have been built and opened and proposed places that have not yet been built.

Cancelled projects

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Universal Studios Dubailand: A Case Study on the Rise and Fall of Dubai". Fast Company. 24 August 2009.
  2. ^ Why Dubailand Failed $64 Billion Project, dubailocation.com, May 28, 2022
  3. ^ a b c d e "Dubailand". Property Developments. TEN Real Estate. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  4. ^ [1] Archived 27 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "FAQs about Dubailand" (PDF). Union Interfusion. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  6. ^ "Great Dubai Wheel - Dubailand". Dubai-online.com. 3 October 2006. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  7. ^ a b McGinley, Shane (5 January 2012). "Dubai's answer to London Eye scrapped, search on for stand-in". Arabian Business via Arabianbusiness.com. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Dubailand must be scaled down significantly: BMI". ConstructionWeekOnline.com. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  9. ^ "DreamWorks to set up theme park in Dubai". ArabianBusiness.com. 20 January 2008. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Freej Dubailand". Dubaitourismreview.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ Fritz, Ben (23 September 2009). "Disney tells details of Marvel Entertainment acquisition in a regulatory filing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  12. ^ Barnard, Lucy (14 August 2013). "Dubai theme park featuring Marvel superheroes takes shap". TheNational.ae. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Dubai to get Legoland Park". GulfNews.com. 6 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  14. ^ John Bambridge (19 March 2013). "Shapoorji Pallonji wins revived Dubailand contract". ConstructionWeekOnline.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Gallery: Dubai Miracle Garden | CNN Travel". Travel.cnn.com. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Dubai Butterfly Garden: The Complete Guide". Headout. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  17. ^ Nick Webster (31 October 2016). "Legoland Dubai's opening day wows visitors". TheNational.ae. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  18. ^ Trump World Golf Club, Dubai
  19. ^ New retail mix - farmers' and flea markets, Dubai Outlet Mall's expansion will focus on 'social retailing', August 16, 2022 gulfnews.com
  20. ^ Destination Dubai VIP, destinationdubaivip.com
  21. ^ Al Sahra Desert Resort, arabiaweddings.com
  22. ^ Plantation Equestrian and Polo Club, poloclubdubai.com
  23. ^ Skiing in the desert, alfalaval.com'
  24. ^ Dubai Snowdome, Website
  25. ^ Downtown Dubai website
  26. ^ Wadi Walk website
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25°05′N 55°18′E / 25.083°N 55.300°E / 25.083; 55.300