#PROJECT: DUBAILAND [PART 2] [Archive] - Page 2

Parisian Girl

February 21st, 2008, 08:30 PM

Dubailand teams up with HIT Entertainment of UK

Published: February 21, 2008, 01:15

Dubai: Dubailand, which is to be the largest leisure entertainment destination in the Gulf, on Wednesday said it has formed a strategic alliance with UK-based HIT Entertainment, one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights owner, to develop a portfolio of family entertainment projects in Global Village.

"The highlight of the alliance will be the creation of the world's first HIT Entertainment 'Little Big Club' in Dubai. The 25,000 square foot indoor/outdoor project represents a multi-million dirham investment within the permanent Global Village which is set to open its doors in the last quarter of 2008," a Dubailand statement said.

The venture will offer young children and their families a unique, fully immersive, secure and interactive experience.

The 'Little Big Club' is designed around the globally popular characters Barney, Pingu, Bob the Builder and Thomas & Friends with themed rides and indoor and outdoor play-centres.

The 'Little Big Club' will also feature party and educational function spaces and a theatre that will present mini live shows as well as screening the most popular television shows produced by HIT Entertainment as well as first run productions.

Mohammad Al Habbai, CEO of Dubailand, said: "The alliance with HIT Entertainment is a continuation of our strategy of bringing the world's most prestigious names in the leisure and entertainment industries to Dubailand.

"HIT Entertainment joins an illustrious portfolio of Tatweer-owned investments formed by Bawadi, The Tiger Woods Dubai, Universal Studios Dubailand and Dreamworks Animation Park, in addition to Dubailand itself and the Global Village."

Dubailand and HIT Entertainment will also work together to develop new concepts, including live shows and a diverse mix of music and entertainment, themed restaurants and retail outlets.

Bruce Steinberg, chief executive of HIT Entertainment, said: "Barney, Pingu, Bob the Builder and Thomas & Friends are brands that are loved by children and trusted by parents. With the launch of our new 'Little Big Club', children and families will be able to experience their favourite brands in a new and unique way.

big mo

February 21st, 2008, 08:54 PM

Dubailand just keep, signing parnerships with big enetrtainment comapnies. BUT WHEN WILL THEY START BUILDING THEM!!!!

Parisian Girl

February 21st, 2008, 10:57 PM

Dubailand just keep, signing parnerships with big enetrtainment comapnies. BUT WHEN WILL THEY START BUILDING THEM!!!!

Yes! Personally I'm sick to death of seeing renders and models and god knows what else of DubaiLand, they really need to start construction before we all get so fed up we won't even care anymore.

Wannaberich

February 22nd, 2008, 12:06 PM

Hopefully the conference will give an insight as to when anything might get built.
I too am sick of all words and no action.

big mo

February 22nd, 2008, 12:53 PM

Words, speeches, confreneces, big models. BUT NO CONSTUCTION!
You know what. Yesterday i was reading Gulf News, and it said Dubailand was the biggest theme park in the GULF. Why didn't it say the WORLD. I think they might have scaled down the size of this development. It was probably too much for Tatweer, the developer.

hisham

February 24th, 2008, 09:23 AM

great great projects- but it costs money you knwo

Mavekris

February 25th, 2008, 09:22 AM

Oh money is it

i thought its all for free :nuts:

Parisian Girl

February 27th, 2008, 03:50 AM

^^ :hahaha::hahaha::hahaha:

amplesou

February 27th, 2008, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by bizzybonita
I thought you was luck down for good May 3rd, 2012 08:06 PM ... Thread's Playa

You sir (BIZZYBONITA) are appointed to moderate here NOT sit back and mess with, and BULLY members.

You have done this repeatedly with myself,despite my contribution to the D.Sc. threads and other since 2007..

My contribution to DSc is less because of your single handed ,sick minded bulling attitude imo!

take a look at your pointless tirade against me since the turn of the year below

I have repeatedly asked you and atlind, for your help for improvements to the Mess ,which your lack of "moderation" has led too in the first place on the DSc threads....

I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG TO DESERVE THIS !!!!!!

Profile Infraction
Reason: Random Post
July 3rd, 2011 06:06 PM by bizzybonita 3 / May 3rd, 2012 06:06 PM

Profile Infraction
Reason: Inappropriate Language
February 7th, 2011 09:28 PM by bizzybonita 1 / Expired

Profile Infraction
Reason: Posting random stuff/opening random threads
February 4th, 2011 02:21 PM by bizzybonita 2 / Never

Profile Warning
Reason: Wrong attitude
February 4th, 2011 02:17 PM by bizzybonita 0 / Expired

Bizzybonita your are one sick human being..

Parisian Girl

February 29th, 2008, 04:07 AM

^^ LOL I think we'll all be long dead at the rate they're going :runaway:

Lets just hope that grave yard is NOT in DubaiLand :hahaha:

Wannaberich

February 29th, 2008, 08:33 AM

4 theme parks now planned for Palm Jebel Ali,probably will get built way before Dubailand gets any.

Dubai_Steve

February 29th, 2008, 05:04 PM

Universal Studios will be complete before SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

bizzybonita

March 1st, 2008, 11:54 AM

Dinosaur theme park coming to Dubai

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/12/trex.jpg

In the 90's, you might have been convinced by certain bestsellers and major motion pictures that if someone created a theme park full of man-made dinosaurs, you'd probably get eaten. What no one could have predicted back then was that you wouldn't be getting eaten by a dinosaur... you'd be getting eaten by a robot dinosaur. At least that's likely what you can expect when Dubai's $1 billion "Restless Planet" park opens in late 2008, a 500,000 square foot recreation of our planet at a time when dinosaurs roamed -- replete with giant, animatronic / robotic versions of over 40 extinct species. According to the park's managing director Mustafa Galadari, "The Restless Planet provides a visual, audio and tactile experience allowing visitors to experience some of the exciting things that have gone on in the Earth's history," adding that the effect will be, "Extremely realistic and scary – but at the same time, educational." The dinos will contain embedded potentiometers and motion sensors (amongst others), apparently allowing the reptilian re-creations to follow visitors with their eyes, track specific colors of clothing, regulate their own movements, and even lunge at viewers... then eat them. Don't say we didn't warn you.

source
http://www.engadget.com

Wannaberich

March 4th, 2008, 10:45 PM

GULF NEWS --
Six Flags to unveil Dubai theme park
Staff Report
Published: March 05, 2008, 00:37

Dubai: Tatweer on Tuesday said it had forged an alliance with US-based Six Flags, the world's largest theme park company, to develop projects across the Arab world.

The highlight of the partnership will be the development of Six Flags Dubailand, a five million square feet, multi-billion dirham theme park within the world's largest tourism, leisure and entertainment destination.

The first Six Flags project to be developed outside of North America, the project comes as part of Tatweer's tactical contribution to Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, which aims to develop the emirate into a leading global hub for tourism and leisure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Featuring its signature line-up of adventure rides and attractions, Six Flags Dubailand will boast world-renowned entertainment franchises such as the children's musical group Wiggles and professional skateboarder Tony Hawk.

The park's unique components will complement Six Flags' award-winning productions and original programming, such as Operation Spygirl, the 'Big E' Entertainment Award recipient at the 2007 IAPAA Trade Show and Convention.

Integrating expertise

Tatweer and Six Flags Dubailand also will work together to integrate their expertise to create new concepts across the region, such as Six Flags theme parks, branded restaurants, hotels and retail outlets that will offer travel and vacation opportunities for tourists, families and visitors worldwide.

For the theme park project, Six Flags will conceptualise and oversee the master plan based on its history in that arena, which includes the development, ownership and management of 21 parks across North America. Groundbreaking is expected in 2009. Additionally, the Six Flags corporate alliance division will represent Dubailand for international corporate sponsorship opportunities.

Saeed Al Muntafiq, executive chairman of Tatweer, said: "The addition of Six Flags, one of the world's most reputed leisure and entertainment companies, to our burgeoning portfolio complements Dubailand's value proposition as an unrivalled tourism destination. It is a privilege for Tatweer to be selected by Six Flags as its regional partner and Dubailand as the destination to host the first Six Flags theme park outside of North America."

Six Flags Dubailand will join the repertoire of Tatweer-owned projects at Dubailand destination such as Bawadi, The Tiger Woods Dubai, Universal Studios Dubailand, DreamWorks Animation Park, Hit Entertainment and Global Village.

Wannaberich

March 4th, 2008, 10:46 PM

More talk now lets see some action !

Dubai_Steve

March 5th, 2008, 01:38 AM

If Dubai's theme park community wasn't crowded yet, it will soon.

Days after Busch Entertainment Corp. announced that it would develop four parks in the Middle East boomtown, Six Flags announced it too will create a theme park there. The park will be developed by Tatweer, and ground should be broken by 2009.

Dubai is a rapidly-developing city in the United Arab Emirates, rapidly becoming one of the world's top tourist destinations.

"It's the place to be, to see and to be seen," said Six Flags Vice President Sandra Daniels.

Six Flags is redefining itself as a family entertainment park company but it long has had a reputation for some of the world's biggest, fastest and most exciting thrill rides, particularly roller coasters. The new Six Flags Dubailand will fill 60 lushly-landscaped acres with thrill rides and family attractions and entertainment, Daniels said.

"Obviously, we're very excited," she said.

In heading to Dubail, Six Flags follows Busch Entertainment, which announced its plans last week, Universal Studios, which announced last year it would create a Dubai theme park, and several smaller theme park companies worldwide, including Warner Brothers. Dubai now has attracted theme park commitments from three of the world's five largest theme park companies, but still has nothing from the industry's Goliath, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. At least nothing's been made public. Dubai also has nothing yet from Cedar Fair, the company ranked as the world's fourth largest by ParkWorld Magazine, based on research from TEA and ERA.

The park will be built in an area known as Dubailand. That's the same area that Universal, Warner and several other theme parks are planned. Busch Entertainment is working with a different developer in a different area, called Palm Jebel Ali, where a SeaWorld, a Busch Gardens, an Aquatica and a Discovery Cove will be built.

As with Universal and Busch Entertainment, Six Flags plans to license its concepts and products and run the park, but not develop or own it. Tatweer will put up the capital and actually own the park.

Dubai_Steve

March 5th, 2008, 01:39 AM

This is really great news, Six flags are the best at rollercoaster parks :banana:

Dubai_Steve

March 5th, 2008, 01:50 AM

Six flags commercial :)

LU2yt6wOoK0

Kinda Ka is coming to Dubai ! :banana:

kQ6M_is3NgQ

Parisian Girl

March 5th, 2008, 04:04 AM

Awesome news for DubaiLand! Yea, Six Flags have got some fantastic theme parks alright. :)

bizzybonita

March 7th, 2008, 11:55 AM

This is really great news, Six flags are the best at rollercoaster parks :banana:

:banana::banana::banana:

Dubai_Steve

March 8th, 2008, 04:25 PM

:banana::banana::banana:

http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/jumping/jumping0036.gifhttp://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/jumping/jumping0036.gifhttp://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/jumping/jumping0036.gif

So when can we expect Disney to join Dubailand ?

Dubai_Steve

March 8th, 2008, 05:29 PM

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-cfbkassab0308mar03,0,7010081.column

Tourism pundits who aren't worried that Dubai could one day seize Orlando's title as the theme park capital of the world, take note. It could happen. Here's why:

Orlando is most at risk for continuing to lose market share among Europeans, a group that has traveled to the United States in far fewer numbers since 9-11 as a result of increased hassles at the border.

A national travel lobbying group forecasts 17 percent fewer German, 24 percent fewer French and 4 percent fewer British travelers will come to the United States this year than in 2000.

The flight from London to Dubai is even about an hour shorter than the flight from there to Orlando.

Nigel Worrall, who sells vacation homes primarily to travelers from the United Kingdom, tells me he's already feeling the heat from Dubai.

Busch Entertainment Corp.'s announcement last week that it has partnered with a developer in the United Arab Emirates to build four parks there under the SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Aquatica and Busch Gardens flags just upped the ante even further.

"They [Brits] like what they're doing over there," Worrall, president of Florida Leisure Vacation Homes, told me. "We've certainly got some homeowners who think it's becoming a better investment out there."

And Dubai has the shiny, new factor going for it -- with everything from an indoor ski slope to a theme park centered on Ferrari/Formula 1 that could give the Middle Eastern city a stronghold in the leisure market.

Orlando's trump card, of course, remains Walt Disney World. But for how much longer will Disney stay out of the Dubai mix?

That worries John Thomerson, owner of a wholesale fruit and vegetable company in London, who rents out his second home in Kissimmee part of the year to fellow Brits.

"That would be another nail in the coffin [for Orlando] if Disney built a park there," he said.

He's been to Dubai three times in the past two years. As far as hotels go, he said, "it's the best upmarket experience I've ever encountered."

To be sure, Orlando has a lot going for it. The weather is actually cooler here in the summer than in Dubai, and it will take some time before this town's diversity and quality of attractions can be matched.

But don't be surprised if you start to hear tourism industry folks here talk about Dubai in the same way they bemoan the marketing prowess of Las Vegas.

Parisian Girl

March 15th, 2008, 04:07 AM

DubaiLand keen to tap timeshare business model

Staff Report
Published: March 13, 2008, 00:48

Dubai: Dubailand yesterday launched Dubailand Vacations LLC, an entity specialising in developing timeshare and fractional business models for the region's biggest leisure, tourism and entertainment destination.

The creation of Dubailand Vacations will introduce timeshare developments within Dubailand, generating synergy among various theme parks within the destination, creating new market opportunities and contributing to the sophistication of the consumer-driven Dubai tourism, leisure and entertainment markets.

Timesharing vacation ownership has been included as a key component of the overall development strategy for Dubailand.

Novel concept

The concept of timesharing consists on the division of use rights of resorts or urban accommodations into increments of time such as a week.

These use rights are then sold to the consumer either in perpetuity or for a finite period of time such as 20, 30 or more years. The consumer pays a one time purchase price for the use rights and an annual maintenance fee.

As an early entrant in the timeshare industry, Dubailand will seek to leverage the sector's tremendous global growth over the past few years, with industry sales volumes now exceeding $10 billion annually, and consolidate its leadership position in the Middle East's travel and tourism industry.

Taking the lead

Dubailand has taken the lead in formulating rules and regulations on timeshare and other forms of shared ownership in coordination with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, Dubai Department of Economic Development and major industry players, including Interval International.

When implemented, the new regulations will allow other eligible players to enter the vacation ownership market for the benefit of consumers, developers and Dubai as a whole.

Recent Dubai Government research has revealed that 20 per cent of the predicted 15 million annual tourists (in 2015) will opt for accommodation alternatives to traditional hotel rooms, with many expected to favour timeshare options.

Currently, the Middle East region holds less than five per cent of the world's vacation ownership developments.

http://www.gulfnews.com/business/General/10196944.html

Richard Head

March 15th, 2008, 05:17 PM

Wannaberich

March 17th, 2008, 01:17 AM

These 4 theme parks should be in Dubailand.Or is it just destined to be a huge residential development.If they do build theme parks here then how can dubai sustain so many?

bizzybonita

March 19th, 2008, 07:58 PM

Dubailand: we're still on track

Thursday, March 13 , 2008

A timetable for the completion of attractions at the Dh235 billion Dubailand mega-development has been outlined by its Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Al Habbai.

And, speaking to Emirates Business, he dismissed reports that some of the projects had been delayed. The Formula 1 theme park will be ready by the third quarter of 2009 and the following year will see the launch of the first water theme park, Universal Studios and the City of Arabia, he said.

Other phase one projects due to open in 2010 include the Ernie Els Golf Course, Global Village, Dubai Outlet City, Plantation World and the Al Sahara Desert Resort.

Dubailand – regarded as the Middle East’s response to Disneyland – will have a wide range of attractions including theme parks, culture and art centres, science displays and planetariums, sports academies, retail facilities and resorts and hotels. The target date for completion of all the projects is 2020, by which time more than 250,000 staff will be working at the theme parks.

Al Habbai said work on the Dh1.7bn Formula 1 park was well advanced and it was on schedule for completion next year. The design and infrastructure planning is complete and construction work is in full swing.“The

Formula 1 park is in an advanced stage of construction and the grading has already started,” he added. “Heavy construction will start within a month.”
Al Habbai said he was confident that the other attractions due to open in 2010 would be ready on time.

“These include Universal Studios and the Tiger Woods Dubai golf course. The Bawadi hotel cluster’s first phase is due for completion soon after that. We are also expecting the first water theme park and the City of Arabia to be ready by the last quarter of 2010,” he added.

He denied claims that some of the projects were delayed, on hold or had been cancelled.

“Contractors have been given a timeframe to finish the project,” he said.

“I don’t know where these rumours come from. The indoor snow centre at Dubailand, the Dubai Snowdome, is very much on our agenda. A detailed plan has just been submitted and we are working on it.”

Dubailand is being built on a three billion square foot site along Emirates Road stretching from the back of Emirates Hills almost to Dubai Creek.

The development is intended to be the largest destination for family oriented tourism and entertainment in the Middle East and will have 45 separate projects ranging from a space exploration exhibition to a full-size dinosaur enclosure and the largest waterpark in the world.

Dubailand was officially announced in October 2003 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. He had urged investors not to keep their money in a bank account but to invest in Dubai.

The dinosaur attraction, called the Restless Planet, is being developed in co-operation with the United Kingdom’s Natural History Museum. Sports City will feature large state-of-the-art stadiums and the Great Dubai Wheel will be the world’s largest observation structure of its kind.

The development will also have an Islamic Culture and Science World, while the Mall of Arabia is set to be one of the largest shopping centres in the world.

Projects that are already operational include Global Village, Dubai Autodrome, Plantation Polo and the Equestrian Club.

Via Emirates Business

Dubai_Steve

March 19th, 2008, 08:20 PM

He denied claims that some of the projects were delayed, on hold or had been cancelled.

“I don’t know where these rumours come from.

Obviously he does not read SSC :lol:

2020 ? Great maybe I will still be alive to see it.

bizzybonita

March 19th, 2008, 08:25 PM

LOL could be 2050 handover loool

Dubai_Steve

March 19th, 2008, 08:32 PM

^^ :) but by 2050 we will all be living in virtual worlds and will not have a use for Dubailand anymore.

AltinD

March 19th, 2008, 08:48 PM

2020 ? Great maybe I will still be alive to see it.

:bash::bash::bash:

Wannaberich

March 19th, 2008, 09:05 PM

Everything i've ever read on DB says it will be ready by 2015,now this guy is saying 2020 and thats not a delay ? !

bizzybonita

March 21st, 2008, 02:55 PM

Dubailand unveils timeshare business

Dubailand has launched a new company, Dubailand Vacations, that will specialise in developing timeshare and fractional business models for the region's biggest leisure, tourism and entertainment destination. Timesharing vacation ownership has been included as a key component of the overall development strategy for Dubailand.

R

helghast

March 23rd, 2008, 11:18 AM

Dubailand, a member of Tatweer, is to build 11 132-kV electricity substations valued at Dh1.43 billion to supply power for the first phase of the mega development, its Chief Executive Officer said.

“We will meet the entire electricity needs of Dubailand. Currently, we have got approval for 10 more substations from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) that will be built over a span of 24 months,” CEO Mohammed Al Habbai told Emirates Business.

“One of the substations has already been constructed and is operational,” he added.

According to Al Habbai, all developers in Dubailand will eventually have to build their own substations considering the scale of their projects.

Limitless, the real estate arm of Dubai World, is also planning to set up captive power plants in the $11 billion Arabian Canal project.

“We are looking at the option of generating our own electricity. Besides that, the development will also have its own desalination and sewage plants,” Ian Raine, Limitless development manager for Arabian Canal said.

Real estate analysts have told Emirates Business that developers will eventually generate their own electricity to meet requirements, considering the fact that they are already building their own district cooling systems and roads for their respective developments. However, Dewa is unlikely to take a hit on the revenue front since all the infrastructure developments require approval from the respective authorities.

When asked about rumoured delays in infrastructure work, Al Habbai rejected the claims saying they were working very closely with the authorities and their partners to ensure work is completed on time.

“As per Dewa, each of the projects will have to temporarily develop its own infrastructure in terms of water and sewage plants until we are hooked into the Jebel Ali sewage plant. We are also finalising details of road design.”

Although Dubailand will have more than 45 mega projects when it goes fully operational by 2020, the master developer is currently concentrating on 24 prime projects.

Al Habbai ruled out any further expansion of Dubailand, which currently covers a three billion square foot site along Emirates Road.

“We do not have plans for any further expansion although we have only sold 30 to 35 per cent of land,” he said.

Dubailand’s attractions will be divided into seven types; theme parks, culture and art, science and planetariums, sports and sports academies, wellbeing and health, shopping, and resorts and hotels. The development was officially announced in October 2003 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The emirate is looking to attract 15 million tourists a year by 2015 and Dubailand will play a central role in achieving this figure, Al Habbai said.

The major factor that could restrict this growth is the shortage of hotel rooms but Al Habbai believes that the problem will be overcome.

“We expect Bawadi district to add at least 60,000 rooms, which will lead to more tourist inflow,” he said.

And according to Al Habbai, there are no plans to replicate the Dubailand model in other parts of the world.

“Our focus is on Dubai and we will build in Dubai first,” he added.

In Depth
http://www.business24-7.ae/cs/article_show_mainh1_story.aspx?HeadlineID=4266

Parisian Girl

March 24th, 2008, 10:39 PM

Dh500m zoo for DubaiLand
Joy Sengupta (Staff Reporter)

24 March 2008

DUBAI — The construction of the new zoo at DubaiLand would begin this year, a senior official of the Dubai Municipality has stated.

Amidst speculations that the ambitious project was being scrapped as the civic body could not find suitable land for the project, senior officials of the General Projects Department told Khaleej Times that the zoo was currently in the final stage of designing.

"There has not been any further change in the venue. The new zoo would be coming up at DubaiLand. We have decided upon a consultant for the project and the overview of the project has been done. The designing part of the zoo is being finalised at the moment. The construction work would be beginning this year," said the official.

The new zoo will spread across an area of around 350 acres. The total cost of the project is currently estimated to be Dh500 million. The official added that the whole project has been divided into two phases.

"The first phase involves a total area of around 130 acres. This would include a car park and arrangements for the relocation of the animals currently dwelling in the zoo at Jumeirah," added the official.

The present zoo is situated in Jumeirah and houses around 1,200 animals, raising concerns that it is overcrowded. It has also been under the scanner of prominent animal welfare groups like PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals).

The new zoo at DubaiLand will have features like camel safari, zoo safari, botanical garden, night zoo and other recreational and educational activities for children.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/March/theuae_March773.xml&section=theuae

bizzybonita

March 24th, 2008, 10:48 PM

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

Dubai_Steve

March 25th, 2008, 06:02 AM

http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/animals/animal0029.gifhttp://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/animals/animal0014.gifhttp://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/animals/animal0066.gif

Great news, a proper zoo at last.

http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/animals/animal0062.gifhttp://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/animals/animal0072.gif

Julito-dubai

March 29th, 2008, 04:21 PM

just to recap. we have now:

Universal Studios Dubailand
Six Flags Dubailand
Paramount Dubailand
Hit Entertainment Dubailand
Dreamworks Dubailand
MARVEL Comics Park
+ Sea World Palm Jebel Ali
+ Bush Gardens Palm Jebel Ali
+ Aquatica
+ Discovery Cove
+ projects like Aqua Dunya and unannounced projects in Bawadi

WOW!

Wannaberich

March 29th, 2008, 05:23 PM

Sheltie

March 30th, 2008, 03:12 PM

32 Group have e mailed me and say that levelling activities on the Snowdome site have already started and the site offices are in place. Can anyone tell me if this is true.

I told them, after contacting RERA that I couldn't pay my next installment as they haven't given me an escrow account number and they have told me not to make any further payments until they advise me to. I really hope this is going to be built but have my doubts.

g-man430

April 3rd, 2008, 04:14 PM

I think this goes here: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-nuparks3apr03,0,5853460.story

THE DUBAI GUYS

April 10th, 2008, 02:40 PM

Dubailand 'will not allow delay of projects'

Dubailand would take over any delayed project and build it on its own to ensure timely delivery. No developers will be allowed to delay the construction work on any of the projects. Although so far no project has been identified as delayed.

To date, Dubailand has announced 23 major projects and work on most of them is on schedule. Some of the projects that are already operational include the Autodrome in Motor City, Polo and Equestrian Club, Outlet Mall in Outlet City, Global Village, Al Sahra Desert Resort and the Ernie Els Golf Club at Dubai Sports City.

Meanwhile, total investment at Dubailand has risen to Dh325 billion 38 per cent more than the Dh235bn announced in 2007.

The increase was due to three mega projects having been launched in the first three months of this year. More global attractions were in the pipeline, despite the fact that investments at Dubailand have already beaten expectations. The first announcement this year was Dreamworks Animation Parks in January followed by Little Big Club from Hit entertainment at Global Village in February and Six Flags Theme Park in March.

Dubailand is in talks with property and entertainment groups for the launch of new projects and within this month we will be announcing another new project. Talks have reached the final stage with the parties concerned.

R

philipman2000

April 10th, 2008, 03:53 PM

this is a place for me just tones of theme parks to make sure go on every coaster and get a credits add them to my list of coasters i been on

Parisian Girl

April 16th, 2008, 11:17 PM

Multi billion contracts awarded at DubaiLand

April 17, 2008

MEED reported that two contracts totaling AED 6 billion have been awarded to contractors on the Remraam Community residential project in Dubailand.

The first contract, worth AED 3 billion was awarded to the local Dubai Civil Engineering for the construction of 100 apartment buildings. While, Abu Dhabi based Al Ghafly has been awarded the second package of 100 buildings which is also worth about AED 3 billion.

The buildings will be arranged into 4 clusters, each with 2 sectors and will range from 4 to 7 floors. The total built up area of both packages is about 1.3 million square meters. The project is located next to Global Village and Bawadi Boulevard.

Dar Consult is the consultant and the client is Mizin, the real estate development subsidiary of the local Tatweer.

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2008/04/16/NDIxODE%3D/Multi_billion_contracts_awarded_at_Dubailand.html

Dubai_Steve

April 17th, 2008, 07:46 PM

http://www.kippreport.com/UploadImages/slide/universal.jpg

Coming soon

Launched in October 2003 as the "world's most ambitious tourism, leisure and entertainment destination", Dubailand has now committed to an opening date. Mark December 10, 2010 in your calendar; Universal Studios, currently just a collection of Portacabins next door to the Dubai Outlet Mall, is scheduled to be the blockbuster opening. In truth, patches of Dubailand are already in operation - the F1 track, a scruffy Global Village, the Ernie Els golf course at Sports City - and final work isn't expected to be complete before 2020.

Attractions

What you won't be able to see anywhere else in the Middle East, Europe or Asia: theme parks from Universal Studios, Dreamworks, Six Flags. World firsts: the world's largest shopping mall; all new dinosaur and F1 theme parks; a Tiger Woods golf course. World class: a sports complex fit to stage the Olympics; 100 hotels; lots and lots of houses. Right now, the OTT sales center features model dolphins, a Space Shuttle, coffee shop and two Bengal tigers pacing a cramped enclosure.

Work in progress

Twenty six projects are underway with "several more in the pipeline", according to Dubaliand. With the exception of Sports City, Motor City and the Outlet Mall, very little is actually coming out of the ground. But much of the grading and piling work has been done. Universal Studios is nearing completion of a 10m-high 'berm' surrounding the 22m sqft development; 97 per cent of the sewage pipes and 58 per cent of the water works are complete at City of Arabia. Mall of Arabia requires 9,200 piles to steady the building work, 60 per cent of these are complete. Sports City's cricket stadium will be open by the end of the year, grading work on the main stadium is nearly finished.

http://www.kippreport.com/UploadImages/slide/motor%20city%20tower.jpg

Artist impressions

With 95 per cent of Dubailand currently sand (and, on a hot, gusty day, not particularly pleasant sand), selling the vision requires an air conditioned showroom and first rate scale models. Dubai Sports City has some of the most impressive - trees, canals, pedestrians! The 20m sqft City of Arabia opts for video, featuring an almost entirely green Dubai, a quiet Emirates Road and deserted streets. The voiceover includes the words gossamer, nexus, majestic and phantasmagorical, with a cod-Jurassic Park sound track.

Real estate

There are two types of Dubailand projects: that Tatweer, government-backed, and the private investor. The former tend to be the entertainment providers - Tiger Woods, Universal, Dreamworks; the latter are real estate jobs with attractions tacked on. Motor City, The Plantation, Sports City, Al Barari, Falcon City and Golf City will all be packed with houses. Understandably, Dubailand prefers to pitch them as attractions. Al Barari is described as a "botanical gardens with villas", The Plantation is an "equestrian and Polo-inspired lifestyle statement". Half of the 10-minute City of Arabia video was dedicated to interior shots of apartments.

Merchandise

The current cost of the entire Dubailand project is estimated to be around $64 billion. The builders, landscapers and architects will take their cut, but the money also trickles down to the smaller sectors. Each project has a surplus of branded caps, pens, key rings, drinks mat and T-shirts to give away. The clubhouse at the Ernie Els golf course (a temporary facility while the larger, more lavish club house is built) is already selling branded Ernie Els caps and shirts.

Surreal

http://www.kippreport.com/UploadImages/slide/city%20of%20arab.jpg

The scale of the project is hard to comprehend. So are some of the sights. City of Arabia has taken down its promotional dinosaurs, with the parts left in its staff car park. The site of the Universal Studios is currently an umpromising, wind-blown patch of land next to a discount mall. By 2011 it expects to welcome four million visitors a year.

Wannaberich

April 18th, 2008, 08:27 AM

About time they stopped comparing Dubailand to Disneyland etc.Dubaland isn;t purely an entertainment area but is actually more residential.

The Cebuano Exultor

April 19th, 2008, 04:26 AM

^^ It's only natural that DubaiLand won't be entirely geared for entertainment and/or recreation purposes. I mean, it's friggin' huge (at 3 billion square feet in total surface area).

One simply runs-out of ideas of what entertainment and/or recreation attraction (that is physically-possible and economically/financially-feasible) to put-up in that amount of space.

But...yeah, based on the current trend, DubaiLand may well end-up being one huge suburban development with entertainment and/or recreation attractions here-and-there instead of its initial promise of being Dubai's answer to Walt Disney World.

Wannaberich

April 19th, 2008, 09:49 AM

Cebuano we already know that DL will be a 'huge suburban development with entertainment and/or recreation attractions here-and-there '.I think Dubai should stop making the world think it will be purely entertainment.Projects such as 'Queue Point' and 'Skycourts' are purely residential even, whereas sports city and city of arabia at least have entertainment parts to them.
This area should not have been given the name 'Dubailand',it means nothing.

Wannaberich

April 19th, 2008, 05:29 PM

GULF NEWS:
Tatweer to develop Marvel Super Heroes Theme Park
Staff Report
Published: April 19, 2008, 15:43

Dubai: Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding, on Saturday announced a deal with US-based Marvel Entertainment, Inc. creators of super heroes action characters such as Spider-Man, The X-Men, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk, to develop the world’s first Super Heroes theme park at Dubailand.

The design and conceptual master plan of this 4.5 million sq ft development has been finalised. The park is expected to be open to the public by 2012.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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“We are delighted to welcome Marvel as our latest member in the distinctive Dubailand portfolio. We are confident this landmark partnership will add further value to the exciting world-class offerings of Dubailand,” said Saeed Al Muntafiq, Executive Chairman, Tatweer.

Originally announced last year as a partnership between the Al Ahli group and Marvel Entertainment, Tatweer has now stepped in to oversee and take the development forward, and strategically manage its theme park portfolio.

Maisel added: “We are truly thankful to Al Ahli Group who was instrumental in starting the negotiations to bring the Marvel Super Heroes theme park concept to Dubai. The decision to move over to Tatweer’s Dubailand is strategic and is aimed at positioning Marvel Super Heroes theme park in the world’s most diverse leisure and entertainment destination,” David Maisel, Executive Vice President of Marvel Entertainment and Chairman, Marvel Studios.

Wannaberich

April 19th, 2008, 05:30 PM

Wow,not even a mention of one single residential unit.Well done Dubailand,you remembered what your about.

The Cebuano Exultor

April 20th, 2008, 11:54 AM

^^ Are there any renders or scale-models for the park? :?

THE DUBAI GUYS

April 20th, 2008, 02:04 PM

AP
Hollywood hopes theme parks, superheroes fly in Middle East
Saturday April 19, 2:38 am ET
By Ryan Nakashima, AP Business Writer
Looking to expand its markets, Hollywood hopes theme parks, superheroes fly in Middle East

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Wonder Woman, King Kong and Shrek are heading for the Persian Gulf as part of the rush to build what could become the world's largest theme park playground.
But even as the ink dries on the billion-dollar deals in the United Arab Emirates, movie studios are grappling with ways to make their signature characters and amusement parks fly in the conservative Muslim region.

ADVERTISEMENT

Politically sensitive characters such as Captain America could be left at home. Prayer rooms will join the list of accommodations, and menus will likely feature falafel and humus alongside pizza and hot dogs.

There's even a move afoot to offer Bollywood dance shows to lure Indian visitors.

Investors, studios and park operators are all aiming to cash in on what some observers call the Middle East's decades-long fascination with American culture. Hollywood movies are popular in the region, and Western fashions are hot commodities among residents who travel abroad.

"On the one hand, they hate America. On the other hand they love America to the bone," said Michael Izady, an expert on Middle East culture who reaches history at Pace University in New York.

The theme park market is open -- with no major facilities currently operating in the Middle East.

The projects are no-brainers for the entertainment companies that have jumped at what amounts to free brand expansions with no capital at risk. Few details have been provided about the deals, which entertainment companies simply describe as licensing arrangements for intellectual property and help on designing the parks and attractions, with no mention of possible royalty payments.

Their investment partners have money and land to build the parks but lack the star-powered attractions to draw the millions of visitors needed to make them profitable.

Dubai, one of the seven constituents of the UAE, has thrived and turned into a magnet for the wealthy as oil money flowed in. The government wants to more than double the number of annual visitors from nearly 7 million last year to 15 million by 2015.

In recent months, eight major licensing deals have been struck between oil-rich investors and entertainment giants such as Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment Inc. for theme parks and other attractions.

The first, a $2.2 billion Universal Studios park based on franchises such as King Kong and Jurassic Park, is set to open in an area dubbed Dubailand on the city's desert outskirts in 2010.

Designs for the parks are moving quickly, despite lingering doubts about the long-term availability of financing and the lack of highways and other infrastructure to support the huge developments. Several projects are planned for a manmade island being reclaimed from the sea called Palm Jebel Ali.

Most of the parks are proposed for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the region's most Westernized and cosmopolitan cities, where expatriates outnumber local citizens, bars and restaurants serve alcohol and foreign women stroll some beaches in bikinis.

Kevin Tsujihara, president of Warner Bros. home entertainment group, is convinced that Superman, Batman and other DC Comics characters licensed by Warner will be readily accepted by those who visit the park from the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Even the bare-shouldered Wonder Woman shouldn't raise too many eyebrows "unless we depicted her as a Muslim woman," said Tsujihara, who is spearheading the Warner theme park in Abu Dhabi.

Even so, "we probably wouldn't have her running around in costume around the park," he said.

With plans to help build a $1 billion theme park in Abu Dhabi by 2011, Marvel Entertainment Inc. is downplaying Captain America, a World War II creation draped in the American flag, in favor of attractions based on popular characters such as Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and X-Men -- none of whom carry the same political baggage.

"One of the things that's nice about our characters is they're either about individuals helping people or they're about teams of people of different types, like mutants, that band together and solve problems," Marvel chairman David Maisel said.

"If anything, that's a good message for today's world with all the different cultures," he said.

Park designers also plan to tweak the models used for North American theme parks.

Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. will include beer-tasting zones in its four-park complex anchored by SeaWorld, set to open in Dubai in 2012. The discreet zones will receive little advertising, in accordance with UAE government guidelines.

"Realistically, Dubai is a very cosmopolitan market. It's not unlike visiting Paris or New York or London or Berlin or Milan," Busch Entertainment president Jim Atchison said.

The Walt Disney Co., the world's largest theme park operator by far, is notably absent from the rush to the region. Disney parks and resorts chairman Jay Rasulo said Disney is studying the market.

Some observers said the cultural barriers might be easier to overcome than financial and infrastructure hurdles. Massive construction on a variety of projects is causing traffic jams as road construction has failed to keep pace with the building.

"The development in the UAE is outrunning the ability of the infrastructure to keep up," said Keith James, president of Jack Rouse Associates, which is helping develop a Ferrari automobile theme park in Abu Dhabi to open next year.

"I'm not going to say they're not going to happen, I just don't know that they're going to happen on the tight timeframe that everybody is talking about," he said. "There's simply not enough labor and design effort to pull it off."

The scale of the theme park plans, estimated to cost a total of at least $20 billion, puts them on par with developments in Orlando, Fla., home to a dozen parks including Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios.

"Up until very recently, the Middle East has been theme-park deprived," said Paul Ruben, North American editor of Park World magazine. "They've suddenly joined the 21st century."

The parks will also provide Dubai, and to a lesser extent Abu Dhabi, with an economic buffer against diminishing oil reserves, expected to run out in Dubai in a decade or more.

Funded by sky-high oil prices, government-backed companies in both areas have gone on a worldwide investing sprees, taking stakes in everything from casinos and cruise ships to electronics makers, banks and ports.

Studios and their UAE financiers are taking a risk with the theme parks, said Ibrahim Warde, adjunct professor of international business at The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

"There are two separate issues," he said. "One is whether, financially, all those projects will come to completion. The other question is if they do, will the customers show up?"

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080419/hollywood_middle_east.html

a friend of mine even said Perez Hilton was reporting this! LOL!

R

Dubai_Steve

April 21st, 2008, 01:08 AM

The Walt Disney Co., the world's largest theme park operator by far, is notably absent from the rush to the region. Disney parks and resorts chairman Jay Rasulo said Disney is studying the market.

Come on Disney, you know you want to :D

bizzybonita

April 21st, 2008, 01:52 AM

^^:banana::banana::banana:

Parisian Girl

April 22nd, 2008, 12:45 AM

Come on Disney, you know you want to :D

LOL Surely only a matter of time ... ?? Then again, do Disney really need to come to Dubai? Personally I don't think so, but it would be still cool to see them there. I think they need to drop the "DubaiLand" title though as there is far too much residential [which I have no problem with at all] + other stuff here for this project to be simply labelled / presented / promoted as "entertainment" or a "theme park" area. Kinda defeats the purpose.

Dubai_Steve

April 22nd, 2008, 01:39 AM

If Disney come to Dubai then they will probably be taking up an offer of a free island on the Universe or a mickey shaped island so that it is exclusive.

Dubai_Steve

April 22nd, 2008, 01:43 AM

Will Emiratis get a special fast pass lane ?

Parisian Girl

April 22nd, 2008, 02:15 AM

a free island on the Universe

LOL If they're giving them away for free then I'll have one too please - in the shape of a pyramid! :D

Even if so, then it'll be YEARS before Disney hits Dubai! lol BTW, when are they due to start reclamation on Universe?

Parisian Girl

April 22nd, 2008, 02:21 AM

Dubai_Steve

April 22nd, 2008, 02:25 AM

LOL If they're giving them away for free then I'll have one too please - in the shape of a pyramid! :D

Even if so, then it'll be YEARS before Disney hits Dubai! lol BTW, when are they due to start reclamation on Universe?

I expect that is how they enticed SeaWorld etc. with the island in the shape of a killer whale. Don't think Busch actually own the island, probably have indefinate free usage.

bizzybonita

April 22nd, 2008, 02:38 AM

To excavate all this desert need at least 5 years , so 2010 still dream .

Parisian Girl

April 22nd, 2008, 03:04 AM

I expect that is how they enticed SeaWorld etc. with the island in the shape of a killer whale. Don't think Busch actually own the island, probably have indefinate free usage.

Yea, that sure would be a great incentive to bring Disney on board at DubaiLand alright. Maybe we've just got to wait to see best till last??

Wannaberich

April 22nd, 2008, 09:15 AM

Theres an awful lot of theme parks planned for Dubai.Can they really all be filled up at the same time?At least with Florida there are many millions of people living within
a short drive whereas Dubai will rely far more on overseas visitors.
Also,are those living within, say a 2 hour flight interested in theme parks or is it mainly a western craze?
Perhaps there should be a seperate sub-forum entitled 'Theme Parks',
I've lost track with them all.Anyone have a list?

Dubai_Steve

April 23rd, 2008, 02:44 AM

^^ Yes they will easily be filled, people are bored of walking aimlessly around shopping malls now.

jixline

April 23rd, 2008, 01:07 PM

Gulfnews
By Shakir Husain, Staff Reporter
Published: April 23, 2008, 00:17

Dubai: Dubailand will have 50 to 60 kilometres of combined tram and monorail lines to enable easy movement of people within the emirate's most ambitious leisure and entertainment zone, a senior official said.

The specific details of the internal transport system that connects Dubailand's various attractions are still being worked out, chief executive officer Mohammad Al Habbai said.

"The plan is in the concept and design stage," he said.

At least 10 kilometres of rail lines will pass through the hotel and shopping cluster of Bawadi, the Dh200 billion project that will create 60,000 guest rooms in 51 hotels and the world's longest stretch of shopping and retail space.

Al Habbai said the local transport systems will drastically cut the travel time within the zone, part of Dubai's plans to attract 15 million visitors each year by 2015.

"Today average time spent by a person on Dubai's roads is three hours daily, we want to reduce it to 25 minutes for Dubailand," he said.

Prime development

Being developed on three billion square feet of land, Dubailand will have more people living in it than Dubai's current population of more than 1.5 million.

In other infrastructure projects, Dh1.5 billion is being spent on 11 electricity sub-stations within the zone. One sub-station is ready and the rest are under construction.

Some of Dubailand projects such as the Ernie Els golf course, Autodrome, Sahara Resort and Global Village are already operating.

Al Habbai said by the end of this year a cricket stadium, two multi-use stadiums and the Manchester United football academy will be ready.

"By 2010 most of our 24 projects will be up and running," Al Habbai said, adding that most of the work is being completed on schedule despite challenges faced by the local construction industry.

Asked if Dubai can sustain huge projects like Dubailand, especially since Abu Dhabi has also embarked on mega tourism developments, Al Habbai said: "At the end of the day it is good for the UAE, whether we build projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah."

"It is good to create a travel and tourism destination for the whole region," he said.

The UAE is spending Dh858 billion on tourism projects and Dubai accounts for Dh454 billion, according to Al Habbai.

Wannaberich

April 23rd, 2008, 04:04 PM

^^ Yes they will easily be filled, people are bored of walking aimlessly around shopping malls now.

Well that sure isn't good news for Dubai Mall and the City of Arabia mall not to mention all the others.

Dubai_Steve

April 23rd, 2008, 04:29 PM

The fishes, burj dubai and the dinos will bring em in.

Dubai_Steve

April 27th, 2008, 02:18 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV1WrSL5zKc

Emir of Ketir

April 27th, 2008, 02:08 PM

Critics question Dubailand's ability to meet 2010 deadline
by James Boley on Monday, 21 April 2008

Speculation is rife that Dubailand, the company behind the mega entertainment complex of the same name under development in Dubai, will struggle to meet its projected deadline for completion of the first phase of 2010.

Speaking with Commercial Outdoor Design today at the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure show, John Cussen, general manager of themed construction firm Amusement White Water, commented: "They won't be finished on time. There's so much there but there are not enough investors and they're all waiting for the first one to make a move."

Horst Ruhe, managing director of ride manufacturer Maurer Soehne, suggested a 2011 completion date was more likely for completion. "You need more time for design, planning permission and construction in this region," he said.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/517143-critics-question-dubailands-ability-to-meet-2010-deadline

What is really driving Dubai real estate construction boom is as follows:

war-torn wealthy Iraqis seeking investment opportunities
Iranians not trusting their own state/government hence investing in Dubai
uneducated Blackwater soldiers who can't handle so much money
russian government employees wishing to escape the tax man
Afgahin/Taliban drug lords wishing to wash some money
People from the subcontinent with US/UK passports seeking safe haven
Gulf money that would otherwise get frozen in EU/US for alleged terror funding

Now the entertainment/amusment industry is much more easy to get affected by a terrorist attack in the region because its relying much more on outside tourism, hence no rush in investment there.

Dubai_Steve

April 27th, 2008, 11:17 PM

That must be why every theme parks seems to have 100 investment towers to protect it :lol:

eg.

Aqua Dunya

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/8962/1626777aquaduynaresidenoe4.jpg

dubaiflo

April 30th, 2008, 05:56 PM

A high profile corporate executive of Disney is staying in the Burj at the moment on behalf (and paid for by) Tatweer... ... ...

Dubai_Steve

April 30th, 2008, 06:26 PM

Cool.. Discussion on Disney finally coming to Dubai :)

A deal has to be done here surely, in everyones interest.

The only question is how many parks and where they will be.

I hope we will see more than a Magic Kingdom announced. Hopefully MGM, a couple of Disney water parks and Downtown also.

I can imagine these on an island with Disney resorts all around rather than in Dubailand for some reason but may also be wise to locate it in Dubailand itself and landscape the surrounding resorts with plenty of lakes etc. and connect to the monorail.

bizzybonita

May 2nd, 2008, 04:06 PM

Dubai Holding unit's profit doubles

http://www.business24-7.ae/SiteLists/ArticlesTempPhotoGallery/5_2_2008/ArtclDtaPg_00f08b84aa584a75af8d6ae780b1b420_0.2.jpg

on Friday, May 02, 2008

Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group, a unit of Dubai Holding, said profit in 2007 almost doubled to Dh13.9 billion compared to Dh7.6bn in 2006.

In a statement to the Dubai International Financial Exchange, or DIFX, the group – which includes property developers Tatweer, Sama Dubai and Dubai Properties as well as TECOM Investments, Jumeirah Group and Jumeirah Assets – said total revenue increased to Dh19.9bn from Dh5.5bn in the previous year, while costs also surged from Dh1.8bn to Dh11.8bn.

A significant part of these revenues came from the sale of land, rising almost 700 per cent from Dh1.2bn in 2006 to Dh8.7bn last year. Property sales generated Dh5.1bn, the holding company said.

Under a European medium term note (EMTN) programme, Dubai Holding Commercial sold Dh1bn of bonds that mature this year, $500 million in 2012, 750 million euros in 2014 and 500 million pounds in 2017, according to the statement.

The value of total assets held by Dubai Holding Commercial in 2007 was Dh140bn, compared with Dh119bn in the previous year. Total equity increased from Dh15.9bn to Dh29.9bn, it said.

Gross profit for the year more than doubled from Dh3.6bn in 2006 to Dh8bn last year, as did operating profit, which went from Dh7.7bn to 14.6bn.

Profit attributable to shareholders stood at Dh14.1bn compared to Dh7.7bn in the previous year. The group ended the year with a healthy cash balance of Dh9.9bn, compared to Dh2.8bn at the end of 2006, the statement said. The group's "multinational operations and significant debt financing" exposes it to a variety of financial risks, Dubai Holding Commercial said in the statement. These risks include foreign exchange, credit and liquidity risks. "The group's overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the group's financial performance," the statement said.

"The group uses financial instruments to hedge certain risk exposures," it said. "The group uses foreign currency borrowings, forward foreign exchange contracts and cross currency swaps to hedge its risks arising from significant exposure denominated in foreign currencies."

The group is also exposed to interest-rate risk on its interest-bearing assets and liabilities, such as floating rate loan notes and borrowings, it said.

"The ratio of variable-rate borrowings to fixed-rate borrowings is 52:48. The group manages its interest-rate risk by using derivative instruments such as interest rate swaps," the statement said.

The group's credit risk relates to its monetary assets, "mainly trade receivables, advances to contractors, derivative assets and bank deposits". The group has policies, the statement said, that limit the amount of credit exposure to any financial institution.

While the group's net debt almost halved from 2006 to 2007 to Dh6bn, total equity doubled to almost Dh30bn. This has brought Dubai Holding Commercial's gearing ration significantly lower from 41 per cent in 2006 to 17 per cent in 2007, the statement said.

Mohammed Al Gergawi is Chairman of Dubai Holding. And Fadhel Al Ali is Executive Chairman of Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group.

Parisian Girl

May 3rd, 2008, 01:58 AM

A high profile corporate executive of Disney is staying in the Burj at the moment on behalf (and paid for by) Tatweer... ... ...

Great news! Let's hope this will be the catalyst that brings Disney to Dubai[Land]! :cheers:

Julito-dubai

May 4th, 2008, 10:18 AM

Did some studies about Disney in Uni. I doubt that they will come to Dubai with a full theme park anytime soon. They currently face the problem of overextending their brand. Furthermore, Disney has a distinctive advantage in Orlando as they are well established there in contrast to Paris where they had problems as there really seemed to be a clash of cultures for a while. Therefore I think it might be too risky for the company to open another theme park in Dubai. On the other hand they plan to open a resort style project on Hawaii. This seems to be the best solution for Dubai. Maybe on something like the top island of Dubai Waterfront. (like Bush Gardens on PJA)

bizzybonita

May 4th, 2008, 01:56 PM

Al Odaid to build 3,000 villas in Dubailand

http://business24-7.ae/SiteLists/ArticlesTempPhotoGallery/5_4_2008/ArtclDtaPg_cd594119cdd348848b0b516bf6779bc9_0.2.jpg

A giant residential project with 3,000 villas in Dubailand worth about Dh6 billion will be unveiled in Cityscape Dubai by Al Odaid Real Estate Company.

Mahmoud Al Shaibane, the company's CEO, told Emirates Business that his company has already received the land for the project and will begin construction work at the end of 2008.

He was speaking yesterday at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the company's announcement of a project in the capital.

The project, named Al Odaid Beach Residence, comprises seven residential and commercial towers in the capital's Al Reem Island.

All units were sold even before project was announced, Al Shaibane said.

The development's designs will be displayed in Cityskape Abu Dhabi, which starts next week at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre.

Al Shaibane said his company will launch several residential and commercial projects in the UAE over the next few years. "The country is in urgent need of tens of thousands of residential and commercial units. I do not expect a downturn during the next 10 years, because the demand is increasing, while supply is low." Al Shaibane said.

Construction work at the Abu Dhabi project will start during the third quarter of 2008. The project, which is due to be complete in 2011, includes 2400 residential and commercial units.

Al Shaibane said the total value of Al Odaid's projects was Dh4bn.

The company's capital does not exceeds Dh800 million.

He added that the company has drawn up a plan to expand its investments in the real estate sector outside the UAE and is currently negotiating to launch projects in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

He said the massive project in Dubailand will have about 3,000 villas.

Auxodium

May 5th, 2008, 04:25 PM

dubai land looks like a rich chocolate cake, you have a bite and then you get sick from it.

that is what i think about dubai land

Parisian Girl

May 6th, 2008, 05:35 AM

Phase 3 of Remraam community in Dubailand is sold out

http://www.gowealthy.com/gowealthy/wcms/en/home/news/real-estate/Phase-3-of-Remraam-community-i-1209994328288.html

Julito-dubai

May 6th, 2008, 03:28 PM

Development

Dubai to get Legoland Park
Staff Report
Published: May 06, 2008, 16:47

Dubai: Legoland, an interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12, will soon be coming to Dubai.

Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding announced on Tuesday that it has formed a strategic alliance with Merlin Entertainments Group, the world’s second largest visitor attraction group, to build Legoland Parks across the Arab world.

Tatweer and Merlin Entertainment Group announced the launch of Legoland Dubailand – the first Legoland Park ever built outside of North America and Europe.

The Dh912 million project, occupying a total of three million square feet inside Dubailand, the world’s largest leisure and entertainment destination.

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Legoland Dubailand will feature more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions geared towards families with children ages 2 to 12 and will boost unique attractions geared towards families and children.

Saeed Al Muntafiq, Executive Chairman of Tatweer, said: “The partnership once again demonstrates our dedication to deliver on the tourism objectives of Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 as we multiply our portfolio of entertainment offerings, contributing to transforming Dubai into a pioneering world class tourism destination.”

Morten_Denmark

May 6th, 2008, 07:17 PM

Dubai_Steve

May 6th, 2008, 08:32 PM

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/love025.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

bizzybonita

May 7th, 2008, 02:32 AM

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/cool21.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

Parisian Girl

May 7th, 2008, 03:26 AM

Tatweer brings Legoland to Dubai

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/518600-tatweer-brings-legoland-to-dubai?ln=en

Parisian Girl

May 7th, 2008, 03:35 AM

DUBAILAND® to showcase over 18 projects at Arabian Travel Market 2008

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/press_releases/detail/17807

bizzybonita

May 7th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Bawadi design concept completely revised

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

With global hotel transactions down by more than 60 per cent this year, the world's hospitality industry is feeling the impact of the US financial crisis on funding. Even this year's Arabian Hotel Investment Conference saw the launch of only one new Dubai hotel – Nakheel's 216-room easyHotel in Jebel Ali Free Zone – compared to dozens of launches at previous events.

However, the most ambitious hotel development project in the Middle East and probably the world is Bawadi in the Dubailand theme park that is making considerable progress.

Last year the project grew to a Dh200 billion investment in 51 hotels with 60,000 rooms and 1,500 food and beverage outlets within a 10-kilometre air-conditioned zone with massive convention centres, theatres and perhaps inevitably the world's biggest concentration of retail space under one roof.

Bawadi is at the forefront of the Dubai Government's integrated tourism strategy to expand hotel rooms in the emirate from 47,000 today to 142,000 by 2015. Like Las Vegas this will be a self-contained entertainment destination but unlike this desert city there will be no gambling.

Dubai Government-owned Tatweer is presently investing Dh40bn in Bawadi, and will own and develop the three biggest hotels on the 10km thematic strip. Infrastructure work has started.

The centrepiece of the development and the world's largest hotel, Asia-Asia is now scheduled to open in 2012. It will provide 6,500 rooms, combining 5,100 four-star and 1,400 five-star rooms. Emirates Business caught up with Bawadi CEO Arif Mubarak on the sidelines of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference this week.

How many hotels and for what value are you building in Bawadi? It seems to have got bigger since your appointment two years ago when 31 hotels were discussed worth Dh80bn.

That is correct. Total investment has increased to Dh200bn. We have been concentrating on doing a great deal of detailed design work on what will be the largest integrated hotel community in the world, and by the end of 2012 we plan to have 7,500 rooms open. Phase one of the Asia-Asia Hotel will open at the end of 2012 in the middle of the complex, which will be the biggest hotel in the world. But the first to open will be the Desert Gate Hotel spanning the entrance at the end of 2011, and the hotel at the other end of the 10km zone will open by the end of 2013. There will now be 40 million sq ft of retail space in Bawadi formed into three areas: the Bawadi-Al Ghurair joint venture; the Bawadi-Emaar joint venture; and a third we have not announced yet. Aside from being totally linked by air-conditioned walkways the zone will have its own personal rapid transit system.

On your appointment two years ago the government set a target of opening Asia-Asia by 2010. So has your construction programme slipped behind?

It is true our schedule has slipped behind, mainly because we have completely revised the design concept to something entirely different. But I am absolutely confident that the Asia-Asia and Desert Gate will now launch according to the new schedule. We will be revealing the new design concepts for both hotels in the fourth quarter of this year or the first quarter of next year.

Las Vegas is one of the world's top four cities in terms of the number of hotel bedrooms. But that is because it is the gambling capital of the US, not because people are attracted to desert. Will visitors to Dubai not always choose a beach hotel for leisure over a desert hotel?

Bawadi is not out in the desert. It is only 15 minutes from the beach in fact, so I don't think you can really compare Bawadi to an in-land desert city such as Las Vegas. It will be a family destination close to a large residential area and theme park zone with many world-class attractions such as 6 Flags, Dreamland, Universal Studios as well as the Sports City and MotorCity.

For shoppers there will be Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Mall nearby. This is a very strategic project for Dubai tourism and part of a fully integrated expansion plan to bring in 15 million visitors a year by 2015. It's fully tied in with the growth of the Emirates airline and the new airport at Dubai World Central. Nobody will feel they are out in the desert at Bawadi, it is part of Dubai.

You made your reputation at the Dubai Development and Investment Authority for attracting new foreign investment into Dubai. How much interest do you have in foreign investment in hotels in Bawadi?

The Dubai Government will be the main driver behind Bawadi and has chosen to be the main investor. This allows us to set the benchmarks and standards for a fully integrated hotel community in a way that just selling plots of land would not permit. We will be the investors in the three major hotels and the infrastructure for the 10km-long project, and 40 per cent is ours as the master developer. But this is a different business model to other projects in Dubai. Nobody will be able to resell unless their hotel is completed. We are offering two different options to investors. First, 50:50 joint ventures such as the one we have announced with Emaar Properties and the Al Ghurair family. We will share the execution and handle the overall branding and masterplan. There will be more joint venture announcements over the next few months. Secondly, we are selecting specific hotel developers who are well experienced in this region such as Galadari and Al Ghurair. The international hotel operators will participate but there are probably not enough brands and we think there is a great opportunity to create new global brands in Bawadi.

If it is going so well, why is the Dubai Government making so much of the investment itself. Are there any plans to scale back this commitment?

Right now we are going ahead with Bawadi as the main investors, and we have no problem with finance. We want to be in control to ensure delivery is on time, or with few slippages, and to set the standards. There is also a different mindset when you work in joint venture partnerships, and that is essential to the success of this project. But we will be offering part of the project to private developers for residential development. That might include timeshare, which would be complementary to the project. And hotels will be able to develop their own staff accommodation no more than a 15-minute walk from their property.

What do you expect to achieve by participating in the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference this week? Is this a place where deals get done?

We have two objectives in taking part in this event. First, to show our vision and plans to the hotel operators and developers attending from all over the world. And secondly to make sure the Bawadi name is known to hotel operators so they are aware of us when we make future announcements.

Yesterday you were part of a panel discussion questioning whether the Dubai hotel sector is a bubble. Do you think this a bubble? Nothing expands forever. We are not seeing so many new hotel launches at the AHIC this year, for example, is this a downward trend?

Bubbles have been a topic of discussion in Dubai for the past 20 years and we are still waiting for it. I think there is no sign of any such thing. Dubai has a track record of commitment and delivery, albeit maybe with a slight slippage in time.

As far as Bawadi is concerned the project is a sign of the success of the Dubai hospitality and tourism sector, and a strategic initiative of great importance. It is to be a whole new experience for tourists with 100 entertainment venues, from convention centre shows to music in hotel lobbies and live theatre. We see 300 million people living within an hour-and-a-half flying distance from Dubai, and Dubai is the only entertainment hub in the region; and we have many people coming to visit from a lot further away. So this is a sustainable business model with a great future.

PROFILE: Arif Mubarak CEO, Bawadi

In May 2006 Arif Mubarak moved to Bawadi as CEO after a highly successful two-year association with Dubailand, a member of Tatweer, the Dubai Government holding company.

At Dubailand Mubarak was the director of Dubai Development and Investment Authority, Asia-Pacific office, and assisted in acquiring 80 per cent foreign investment for the $64bn theme park, which is almost as large as the existing area of metropolitan Dubai.

A UAE national, Mubarak studied for a master's in leadership strategies at Cranfield University, the UK. He has taken courses in management from the Columbia Business School and University of Michigan.

His professional career started while he attended university and was selected to join the Dubai Media City project as a regional sales consultant. After succeeding in this role, he was selected to work at DDIA as the project capitalisation manager to develop investment products and services for private and corporate investors. In all three entities DMC, DDIA and Dubailand, Arif was one of the founding team members. Mubarak is also a member of the Young Arab Leaders, UAE Chapter.

bizzybonita

May 7th, 2008, 06:51 PM

Dubailand on track to meet deadline, says executive

A senior executive of Dubailand has hit back at speculation that the mega entertainment development may struggle to meet its projected opening deadline of 2010.

In an interview with Commercial Outdoor Design at the Arabian Travel Market trade show today, Mohammed Alhabbai, senior vice president for Dubailand, the company behind the development, said the firm was ‘very confident' of meeting the phase one opening deadline.

"We are very confident. As of today, we are working very closely with the authorities and our own consultants to ensure that we deliver Universal Studio by 2010," he said.
Asked if there are enough contractors available to complete the multiple large-scale entertainment projects under construction, he replied yes.

Obtaining materials could prove to be the only major challenge, he commented. "I think most of those projects if they don't secure the materials, they might be delayed but it won't be a major delay," he said.

Construction on all 24 projects is scheduled to start by the end of this year, with most of the projects already on ground, he added.

"Over 24 mega projects are already on site. They are progressing very well. Six projects are up and running. From now up to 2010, most of our other projects will be open and fully operated," he said.

Approximately 80% of the contracts to work on the project have already been awarded with the remainder to be awarded this year, he added.

Alhabbai's comments come after speculation from within the industry that the supply of talent and materials may be hard pushed to meet demand for so many large-scale entertainment projects simultaneously.

Dubailand has previously stated that it expects phase one of the project to ready for opening by December 2010, with Universal Studios slated to open on December 10, 2010.

Launched in October 2003, Dubailand is expected to become the world's largest leisure and entertainment destination. Developed at a cost of US$63.9 billion, the development is expected to create 250,000 jobs and to attract 15 million visitors by 2015.

Its projects include theme parks Universal Studios, Six Flags, Super Heroes and Freej, as well as City of Arabia, the water park Aqua Dunya, Dubai Golf City, and Dubai Sports City.

A number of projects are already operational including Dubai's first permanent outdoor show, Jumana-Secret of the Desert, part of the Al Sahra Desert Resort.

Dubai_Steve

May 9th, 2008, 12:39 AM

The world's biggest collection of cartoon character and thrill ride theme parks is to be built in the desert in Dubai.

Legoland yesterday became the latest to sign up for Dubailand, a vast playground of theme parks and attractions on a tract of desert which, when completed, will be bigger than Singapore.

A total of 26 projects will make up the $60bn project, with separate theme parks also planned for Marvel Super Heroes (Spiderman, Incredible Hulk), Dreamworks (Shrek) and Universal Studios.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder will also have their own parks, with US-based thrill ride park Six Flags also opening outside America for the first time. The colossal project will be twice the size of Disney World in Florida, currently the world's biggest theme park.

Work has already started on Dubailand, with an Ernie Els-designed golf course and three polo fields completed. A new cricket stadium opens in August, then works starts in earnest on the world's first uber theme park.

"From December 2010, we will be opening a theme park every six months," said marketing director Ahmed Tag Eldeen at a conference in Dubai yesterday.

The scale of the project is staggering, with only Las Vegas capable of building on such a scale. Jurassic and Formula 1 theme parks are also planned, as is a wheel bigger than the London Eye and a lifesize replica of the Eiffel Tower.

A huge sports stadium and Tiger Woods golf club are also planed – but you only get to play if you buy a villa (from $2m). All will be marketed as Dubailand, with a new rail link being built from Dubai's centre.

Dubai even promises some culture, with the opening of the Islamic Culture and Science building.

The project is the culmination of increased efforts to double tourism to Dubai. Last year, more than 7.7m tourists visited, but Dubai expects 15m to visit by 2015. More than 20,000 hotel rooms will be built on site, along with thousands of shops and restaurants.

The Emirate also wants to boost the amount of time visitors spend in Dubai – currently only 2.8 days. Tourism now accounts for 19 per cent of Dubai's revenue, a figure expected to increase to 35 per cent by 2020.

But one name conspicuously absent from the theme park roll call is Disney itself. "We are not excluding Disney – we are in talks with everyone," insisted Ahmed Tag Eldeen. "They may join but it all depends on whether Disney wants to come to the party."

Parisian Girl

May 9th, 2008, 10:56 PM

Legoland Dubailand & a mini Burj Dubai to debut in 2011 in the United Arab Emirates

http://i30.************/2ibp6jo.jpg

Thursday, May 8, 2008

“In a place where a gallon of gasoline is almost as cheap as a liter of bottled water in the U.S., anything seems possible,” L.A. Times staff writer Susan Spano wrote in a story in January about Dubai (http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-dubai27jan27) in the United Arab Emirates.

The folks at Legoland (http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-lego2mar02) must have taken those words to heart because they’ve come up with a 3-million-square-foot amusement park they plan to open in 2011 in this Hong Kong of the Middle East.

Legoland Dubailand (http://travel.latimes.com/destinations/africa-middleeast/attractions/legoland-dubailand-dubai-city-united-arab-emirates) (lots of “land” in that name for this tiny emirate barely bigger than Rhode Island) will join four other amusement parks in Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and, of course, Carlsbad, California.

According to a release from Legoland, it was Legoland California’s (http://travel.latimes.com/destinations/san-diego/attractions/legoland-california) model team (http://www.halftondesign.com/legoland/legolandca/) that built a 17-foot, 9-inch-tall version of the Burj Dubai, slated to be the world’s tallest building.

— Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

The Cebuano Exultor

May 9th, 2008, 11:14 PM

^^ Oh man! This is cool! Finally, we're seeing a lot of investment/brand-expansion interest from the American theme-park operators!

So far, Dubai has enticed:
1. Busch Gardens/Sea World
2. Universal Studios/Universal City
3. Marvel Enterprises
4. Paramount
5. DreamWorks
6. Six Flags
7. Legoland

Although, Dubai still hasn't been able to entice:
1. Walt Disney
2. CedarFair
3. Warner Brothers Movieworld
4. Hanna-Barberra
5. Fox Studios Backlot

dubaiflo

May 10th, 2008, 12:51 AM

This is seriously kicking off now.. can't expect a lot more themeparks and attractions than this.

Dubai_Steve

May 10th, 2008, 02:36 AM

Disney is essential.

Imre

May 10th, 2008, 08:11 AM

8/May/2008

Dubailand

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/9360/imresolt253ib1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1788/imresolt254tk0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8530/imresolt255wa0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

THE DUBAI GUYS

May 10th, 2008, 10:09 AM

and on that note:

Dubailand dismisses delay rumours
by Amy Glass on Wednesday, 07 May 2008
RUMOURS DENIED: Dubailand is
zoomzoom
RUMOURS DENIED: Dubailand is

A top executive at Dubailand has dismissed speculation the 235 billion-dirham ($63 billion) project cannot meet its 2010 deadline, saying the mega development is on “completely on track”.

Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, Mohammed Al-Habbai, senior vice president at Dubailand, told ArabianBusiness.com rumours the project would not be finished in time were a misunderstanding.

““We are very confident… we are right on schedule in most of the project and we will surprise the people who say we are not on target,” he said.
Story continues below ↓
advertisement

Al-Habbai said the huge scale of Dubailand - the smallest project is 2.5 million square feet - meant that people looked at the site and mistook the open space as a lack of progress.

The project, billed as the world’s largest leisure and entertainment destination, will host a total of 2.5 million residents and employ 250,000 people once complete.

Al-Habbai said his biggest challenge would be the recruitment of employees, but with over 50% of people in the region below 23 years old, he believed working in the high-profile Dubailand companies would be attractive.

The project has not been heavily impacted by rising costs in construction and labour, he said.

“Increases in the cost of infrastructure have affected everybody. But in our business model we keep a buffer to avoid any price increase. Also, when I sign a contract, I lock in all my material costs to be on the safe side,” he said.

Dubailand, a member of Tatweer, hosts 24 mega projects, including Dubai Sports City, the City of Arabia, and Falcon City within its three billion-square foot plot. The entire project is as big as Singapore, Al-Habbai said.

The developer also announced the launch of $248 million Legoland on Tuesday, the first to be built outside Europe and the US. Marvel, Universal Studios and Dreamworks have all signed up to develop theme parks in Dubailand.

R

bizzybonita

May 10th, 2008, 04:53 PM

Legoland set to attract 2.5m visitors every year

Friday, May 09, 2008

Legoland, the latest theme park addition to Dubailand, is expected to draw 2.5 million visitors to the park each year, helping Dubai reach its 15 million tourist mark before the 2015 target.

Mohammed Al Habbai, chief executive officer of Dubailand, said the Dh1 billion attraction will begin construction next year and will be open to the residents and tourists by 2011.

"We're going to Germany in two weeks time to finalise the detailed design for Legoland. The project is expected to bring in 2.5 million tourists per year; that is our target for it," Al Habbai told Emirates Business.

In comparison, Universal Studios Dubailand has a yearly target of 4-5 million tourists to the park, while other projects have a two million visitor target, Al Habbai said. Global Village last year attracted 3.2 million visitors within a temporary 45-day period.

"It's hard to say how many visitors we'd like to see each year [to meet the 2015 target]. But Dubailand will play a major role in attracting 15 million tourists, and it will also play a major role to attract 120 million passengers passing through Al Maktoum Airport at Jebel Ali. We are expecting to achieve 15 million tourist target before 2015," he added. The theme park will be built over four million square foot and is targeted at two-to-12-year olds.

The Legoland brand is already well-known in North America and Europe. Legoland Dubailand, which will be managed and operated by the world's second largest visitor attraction group Merlin Entertainment, will be the brand's first venture outside of North America and Europe.

Al Habbai also said plans for Dubailand's Western City are still on the cards and the project is expected to open by the end of 2010.

"We saw the detailed designs last week and we're expecting the finalised concept to be submitted in two month's time. Construction would start before the end of this year."

The Dh2.29bn project was announced in 2006, however no details or updates have been announced since.

According to Al Habbai, plans to open the first phase of Dubailand are still on track for 2010 despite rumours of delays.

"Universal Studios is expected to open by the end of 2010, we are already on track on that. It's going to be the first Tatweer-owned theme park to open," he said.

Prior to that, the project will open the Tiger Woods Golf Course next September, the Formula One theme park in Motor City next year, and the Manchester United Academy in Dubai Sports City by October this year.

The Six Flags theme park will open in 2011, Dreamworks and Marvel in 2012, while Freej will open in 2013.

Al Habbai also said Dubailand is not currently looking for more funding for the Dh235 billion mega-project.

Dubailand is so far made up of 24 projects being developed by third party developers, plus Tatweer-owned attractions such as Global Village, Universal Studios, Dreamworks, Six Flags and Legoland. He did not reveal whether Dubailand was looking at introducing more Western brands.

"As of now there are no plans and Legoland is the latest brand for us."

Dubailand is expected to boost the contribution of the tourism sector to the emirate's gross domestic product from its current 19 per cent to 35 per cent by 2015.

"As of today we expect an average daily spend of between $40 and $45 per person, excluding air tickets and hotel. By 2015 we are targeting to achieve $240 average spend per person," the Dubailand CEO said. The

numbers

2011: The year in which Legoland will be opened for public

15m: The number of visitors expected in Dubai by 2015

bizzybonita

May 10th, 2008, 04:55 PM

Good place to invest ...

bizzybonita

May 11th, 2008, 03:10 PM

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/images/magazines/arabianbusiness.com/web/fullsize/ATM14_full.jpg

Parisian Girl

May 13th, 2008, 06:30 AM

Tatweer Towers, realty project in Dubailand, shelved
12-May-2008

Mizin, a member of Dubai-based real estate developer Tatweer, has suspended operations on its Tatweer Towers project in Dubailand, a master development being built by Tatweer. Reason for shelving the project is unknown, but it is understood that there had been issues with nearby flight paths for Dubai International Airport.

The real estate project had involved the construction of two high-rise towers that will be used for a five-star hotel and offices. The total built-up area would have been 900,000 square metres.

Dubailand, a 3 billion sq ft real estate development in Dubai, offers one of the biggest leisure, entertainment and tourism options in the Middle East. A number of Dubailand projects are currently up and running including Al Sahra Resort, Dubai Sports City and the Dubai Autodrome, with a host of other projects currently in their final stages to be underway very soon.

http://www.gowealthy.com/gowealthy/wcms/en/home/news/real-estate/Tatweer-Towers-1210579538568.html

malec

May 13th, 2008, 10:21 AM

Issues with the flight paths? But city of arabia is a massive distance away, almost twice as far as burj dubai! If this gets shelved because of the flight paths then what happens to the dubai towers which are around the same height but way closer?

AltinD

May 13th, 2008, 01:06 PM

Hm ... anyway malec it depends where the flight corridors pass to, and who knows maybe it is the Al Maktoum Airport the culprit this time.

malec

May 13th, 2008, 01:57 PM

^^ If it's the jebel ali airport then no supertalls for bawadi either.

bizzybonita

May 13th, 2008, 04:36 PM

DUBAILAND® finalizes design and conceptual master plan of AED 3.3 billion Marvel Superheroes theme park

Posted on Tuesday, 13 May 2008

Industry Sector Construction
Country United Arab Emirates
Client(s) Marvel Entertainment | Dubailand | Tatweer

Press Release Content

Three theme park rides undergoing offsite test runs.

DUBAILAND®, a member of Tatweer, today announced the finalization of the design and conceptual master plan for the world's first ever Marvel Superheroes theme park that will be developed with investments of AED3.3 billion (US$900 million) as a key anchor project at the world's largest leisure, tourism and entertainment destination.

The 4.5 million square feet project will be demarcated into three districts, including City Centrum, the HUB, and The Marvel Academy. Three of the theme park's rides - Flying with Spidey, Fantasticar, and X-men: Danger Room - are already undergoing offsite trial runs, prior to its installation within DUBAILAND®.

Mohammed Alhabbai, CEO DUBAILAND®, said: "Work on the Marvel Superheroes theme park is on fast track. The finalization of the design and master plan marks a significant milestone in the progress of the development that is already generating great excitement with the offsite trial runs of its three popular rides.

"The theme park will draw over 3.5 million visitors annually as a high-voltage entertainment park for the entire family to re-live their childhood memories and interact with their much-loved Superhero characters."

The Marvel Superheroes theme park will boast 17 rides and attractions. It will also comprise nine retail outlets on an area of 30,000 square feet. Over 40 food and beverage outlets, including carts merchandising light refreshments, will be developed over 40,000 sq. ft. area.

Groundbreaking for the project is expected to be conducted in the first quarter of 2009, with the theme park scheduled to open doors on 31 December, 2012. Initiated by Tatweer, the Marvel Superheroes theme park will further enhance and diversify the region's entertainment offerings, and spotlight Dubai's status as one of the world's most attractive tourism destinations.

DUBAILAND®, a three billion sq ft development, Other projects owned by Tatweer at DUBAILAND® destination include, The Tiger Woods Dubai, Universal Studios DUBAILAND®, Global Village DUBAILAND®, DreamWorks DUBAILAND® Animation Park, Hit Entertainment "Little Big Club DUBAILAND®", Six Flags DUBAILAND®, Marvel DUBAILAND®, FREEJ DUBAILAND®, and LEGOLAND® DUBAILAND®.

Exciting attractions such as Dubai Sports City, MotorCity, Falcon City of Wonders, Al Sahra Desert Resort, the Polo and Equestrian Club, Al Barari and City of Arabia are also part of DUBAILAND®'s overall offering.

bizzybonita

May 13th, 2008, 05:30 PM

Global Village and HIT Entertainment finalises master plan of world’s first ‘Little Big Club’

Posted on Monday, 12 May 2008

Industry Sector Construction
Country United Arab Emirates

Press Release Content

Global Village, a member of Tatweer, today finalised the master plan for the recently announced ‘Little Big Club' that will be set up in alliance with HIT Entertainment, the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights owners.

The ‘Little Big Club' will be designed around the globally popular characters of BarneyTM, PinguTM, Bob the BuilderTM, and Thomas the Tank EngineTM. It will include indoor and outdoor play-areas, party rooms, theatre, café, and a dedicated retail outlet.

ٍAbdul Redha Ali Bin Redha, CEO, Global Village, said: "Finalising the master plan of the ‘Little Big Club' indicates a significant milestone in the development of the project. It also marks our commitment to developing a diverse portfolio of family entertainment projects in Global Village and DUBAILAND®.

"Our partnership with "HIT Entertainment" is another step that marks our efforts to contribute to the growth of Dubai's tourism sector and meet its ambitious objectives of attracting 15 million tourists by 2015."

:banana::banana::banana:

Brummyboy92

May 13th, 2008, 06:52 PM

Can someone confirm to me, what theme parks and waterparks afe deffinatly happening write now, I dont want to here about proposed ones but ones that will be happening?

Parisian Girl

May 15th, 2008, 01:58 AM

Dubai Properties awards contracts for Tijara business park

http://i29.************/pabko.jpg

Last Updated: 14 May 2008 17:51

Local developer Dubai Properties has awarded three contracts totalling more than AED6bn ($1.6bn) on its Tijara Town business park in Dubailand.

The local Ginco Contracting will build 70 low to mid-rise buildings. Profile RH, also local, will build 25 buildings and India's Sharpooji Pallonji will build 15 buildings.

The project will be built on a 1.8-square-kilometre plot in Dubailand on the Al-Ain road, close to Emirates road. The development will offer integrated office, showroom, warehouse, and residential space in one unit. In total there are 51 freehold mixed-use units of 7,700 square metres each.

The local Wade Adams Contracting is carrying out road and infrastructure work. The local PMDC is the project manager. Al-Hashemi Planners, Architects & Engineers, also local, is the consultant (MEED 26:10:07).

http://www.meed.com/news/2008/05/contracts_awarded_at_dubailand_business_park.html

bizzybonita

May 16th, 2008, 02:37 PM

good news indeed :)

AK1990

May 16th, 2008, 07:28 PM

Wow I'm really intrested in the hollywood brands that are coming, I guess the only major movie brands that don't have a theme park in the UAE is 20th Century Fox, New Line, and ofcourse Disney.

Fox have the Star Wars franchise and they own the Simpsons, so they could make a theme park easily if they were asked.

New Line have the hugely popular Lord of the Rings franchise so they can dedicate a whole area just for it and call it Middle Earth.

MGM are already building a park in Abu Dhabi just in case u guys didn't know.

But I'd kill for a Disney theme park, honestly the classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain are just irreplaceable, why won't they make a theme park here ?
If Tatweer is paying why won't Disney give them the rights or did they ask them already ?

AK1990

May 18th, 2008, 04:17 PM

Hi this is a petetion for a Disney theme park in Dubai, pls vote if your interested !
I'll send them to both Disney (Mark Rasulo) and Tatweer if It reaches a signifigant amount of votes.
So pls vote so Dubai doesn't miss the opportunity of being the ultimate one-stop theme-park destination ever ,and pls spread the word so we can gather more votes !
THX ;)

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/disney-dubailand/

Parisian Girl

May 19th, 2008, 07:27 AM

http://i25.************/2hwo182.jpg

http://www.todayslocalnews.com/?sect=tln&p=5169

How come we don't have a thread for Legoland?

Dubai_Steve

May 19th, 2008, 05:59 PM

Because malec, Krazy and AltinD are too old to be concerned with playing with lego :dunno:

AltinD

May 19th, 2008, 06:19 PM

^^ Or you, the Dubailand-enthusiast, are to busy boycotting Abu Dhabi companies, to actually open one. :dunno:

BTW, appart the eternal kid of the forum, I met last week also someone you would have liked to send to DAS to solve the matter once and for all ... to bad for you he wasn't the "tough-guy" you thought it was, rather a regular young guy.

... you know of whom I'm talking about, don't you. :D

AltinD

May 19th, 2008, 06:23 PM

http://i25.************/2hwo182.jpg

http://www.todayslocalnews.com/?sect=tln&p=5169

How come we don't have a thread for Legoland?

Legoland is near San Francisco ... right? :D

AltinD

May 19th, 2008, 06:25 PM

Disney is essential.

There's a Disney's Mickie Mouse Show currently playing in Dubai at Airport Expo and I think I saw a billboard today saying that it was being moved to the Global Village (but not sure about seeing that right).

Parisian Girl

May 20th, 2008, 06:46 AM

Because malec, Krazy and AltinD are too old to be concerned with playing with lego :dunno:

So ... they like playing with trains instead? :dunno: lol

Parisian Girl

May 20th, 2008, 06:50 AM

Legoland is near San Francisco ... right? :D

Further south - closer to San Diego I believe. ;) Not that I've ever been there of course. :D

AltinD

May 20th, 2008, 03:24 PM

^^ Did you "dig" a little deeper to catch why I said San Francisco? ... and no, I wasn't really interested to know the exact location. ;)

AltinD

May 20th, 2008, 03:30 PM

Wow I'm really intrested in the hollywood brands that are coming, I guess the only major movie brands that don't have a theme park in the UAE is 20th Century Fox, New Line, and ofcourse Disney.
...

New Line have the hugely popular Lord of the Rings franchise so they can dedicate a whole area just for it and call it Middle Earth.

...

New Line is part of Time Warner and haven't they (TW) already announced plans for a Theme Park in Aby Dhabi.

Parisian Girl

May 20th, 2008, 09:47 PM

^^ Did you "dig" a little deeper to catch why I said San Francisco? ... and no, I wasn't really interested to know the exact location. ;)

No, I didn't "dig" for anything! lol Read your post in 1.1 seconds and went with that! lol :hahaha: I work too fast at times and then I go into complete meltdown and hibernate for a few days. lol Go on then Altin, if it's that important for u? ... why San Francisco? The reference to SF has several meanings for me actually. I just can't wait for my little grey cells to be rejuvenated by all this <:|>

Nah, didn't think a man like u would really want to know the location of Legoland anyway lol I mean why would u?? I just happen to know where it is ... I'm just one of those people who happen to know a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff. :D

AK1990

May 21st, 2008, 05:56 PM

New Line is part of Time Warner and haven't they (TW) already announced plans for a Theme Park in Aby Dhabi.

Dreamworks is part of Paramount but their making an independent theme park anyway, so I don't see why New line won't have it's own theme park.

FromWarsaw

May 22nd, 2008, 10:29 AM

I am sure that scores of people have asked this question, but still please tell me which theme parks have been officially approved in Dubailand?

Sheltie

May 26th, 2008, 07:03 PM

Can anyone tell me if there is any signs of activity on the Snowdome site. It was supposed to be finished next month so when we asked for our money back they said that site offices are locted on the land, soil investigations are completed, fencing completed and partial levelling.
I would like to see photos or find out if all this is true before I decide what to do. They said they would give us our money back but we asked for interest and there was no mention of this. I suppose if it is going ahead they can give us our money back and sell it at a highter price, that's probably what they want.

Parisian Girl

May 27th, 2008, 01:14 AM

UAE prepares for theme park boom

http://i25.************/o9hmz5.jpg

The UAE may soon be the world’s premiere home for theme parks as an increasing number of entertainment giants such as Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment are teaming up with local developers to build mega resorts in the country. However, as billions of dollars are being poured into these projects, some experts are raising concerns about whether these parks will be as successful as hoped.

* United Arab Emirates: Monday, May 26 - 2008 at 10:24

Nine major licensing deals have been struck in the past year between local investors and some of the top names in the global entertainment business such as Six Flags and Legoland.

Global film studios such as Paramount and Universal are also planning major attractions.

Dubailand focal point
Many of the parks are to be located in Dubailand, the $63.9bn mega-development being built on the outskirts of the emirate.

Although most of the parks are in the early stages of development, Dubailand plans to open a new attraction every six months by December 2010, according to Ahmed Tajedeen, the development’s director of marketing.

All told, Dubailand is planning to build 45 mega projects, including the centerpiece theme parks.

Tajedeen brushes aside concerns that there will be too many attractions in the development. 'It is not right to say these parks are competing with each other. They will compliment each other,’ he says. 'We are promoting Dubailand as one destination. It will be a place where you can take the kids on a seven or 10 day vacation because there is so much to do.’

Dubai is hoping to attract 15 million tourists a year by 2015, and theme parks are expected to play a huge role in helping to achieve this goal.

The emirate’s proximity to Europe, Asia, and Africa gives it huge advantage as a tourism hot spot, Tajadeen believes: 'We think the volume will be there to support all of these parks. Look at the Mall of the Emirates. It is able to attract up to 150,000 people a day.’

Hotels bank on parks
Theme parks are also expected to play a vital role in keeping Dubai’s hotel occupancy rates high, which will be no small feat as the emirate is planning to more than double the number of rooms over the next four to five years, says Guy Wilkinson, a partner at Specialist Hotel & Property Development Advisers.

One worrying scenario for developers of new hotels in Dubai is whether there will be delivery delays in the leisure projects. Wilkinson thinks it is likely that many parks will fall behind schedule because of materials shortages and the difficulty of designing these parks to deal with the region’s heat.

Orlando has warm weather too, he points out, but visitors can still enjoy the rides in the summer. 'Dubai is much hotter, so there will need to be a lot of shade in its parks,’ he notes.

Officials at Dubailand are confident that their parks will be successful despite the desert heat. 'All of these aspects have been taken into consideration for our projects,’ says Mohammed Al Habbai, CEO of Dubailand. 'For instance, eighty percent of Universal Studios is covered, shaded and has indoor rides in addition to the fact that Dubai has a nice weather for around eight months a year, which deals with any concerns that are related to the weather.’

One of the theme parks, Aqua Dunya, may be on time because it largely a water park, Wilkinson predicts, but the big parks that do not have water rides may not be ready for 3-5 years.

This could create a glut of available hotel rooms until the attractions are ready. 'There may be a trough in the growth curve in Dubai’s hotel occupancy rates over the next few years before the theme parks open,’ he predicts. 'Seeing a decline in any growth curve is not something we are used to here.’

Another concern is whether there will be too many parks. 'In order to be successful a large theme park will need to be able to attract about one million tourists per year,’ Wilkinson explains. 'Presumably the developers have done their research to determine that there will be enough demand for their parks.’

But people should think twice before questioning the viability of these projects, Wilkinson believes. For example, the sheer number of projects being planned for Dubailand is no accident: 'Dubai is aiming for a true critical mass, it is integral to its plans.’

Wilkinson used to doubt whether the emirate would be able to pull off all of its ambitions plans, but is now a believer. 'We like to compare Dubai to Orlando or Disneyland, but there has never been growth like this anywhere else in the world. When it comes to projects like this, you just have to believe what Dubai has to say,’ he says.

Arab demand is questioned
One thing that developers are counting on is a large demand from Middle East tourists, partly because there are no other parks in the region. However, one industry expert who asked to remain anonymous said it is wrong to expect that these parks will be hugely popular with Arabs.

He notes that there is currently an amusement park in the creek area of Dubai creek area that gets only about '15 visitors a day’. He said one problem is that locals from the region, especially women, do not like to ride on 'scare’ rides.

He also feels that locals will not be interested in the themes of the American franchises. 'How many of them are going to know what 'Terminator 3' is?’ he asked.

And theme parks can quickly lapse into decline if visitor numbers are below expectations, he warned. 'One ride can cost up to $100m to build, and similarly to a personal computer, it becomes outdated after a few years. If you are not getting the amount of visitors you hope to get, you will not be generating the revenue you need to upgrade the rides, and your park will seem old rather quickly,’ he said.

One project, the Legends in Dubailand, has already been cancelled, he noted. The project was slated to be home to three indoor theme parks.

Theme park rundown
Here is look at plans announced by Hollywood studios and other entertainment companies for theme parks in the Middle East:

Marvel Entertainment Inc. is partnering with Dubailand to build a $1bn theme park based on characters like Spider-Man and X-Men.

Universal Studios is teaming up with Tatweer on a $2.2bn project using franchises such as King Kong and Jurassic Park.

Paramount Pictures is partnering with Ruwaad Holdings on a theme park as part of a $2.5bn complex in Dubai using movie themes such as Titanic.

Warner Bros. is teaming up with Aldar Properties on a theme park based on characters including Bugs Bunny and Superman.

DreamWorks Animation is partnering with Tatweer to bring franchises such as Shrek and Kung Fu Panda to Dubailand.

Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.'s entertainment division announces a four-park plan, including a SeaWorld, in Dubai with partner Nakheel.

Theme park operator Six Flags Inc. is partnering with Tatweer on a thrill-ride section of Dubailand.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is building an entertainment complex in Abu Dhabi with Sorouh Real Estate based on franchises including the Pink Panther and James Bond.

Legoland is building a new park in Dubailand, which will be the park’s first venture outside of North America and Europe.

http://www.ameinfo.com/158093.html

AK1990

May 27th, 2008, 08:20 AM

Native people are only 15% of the population in the Emirates, and actually many Emirati people know who the Terminater is, but I bet even my granny would know who Shrek and Mickey Mouse are, so I bet the Dreamworks theme park would be very succesful and ofcourse a Disney park would be the #1 visted theme park if it was in Dubai, it would probably be even more popular than Euro-Disney since Dubai is cheaper, and I don't know any local who hasn't been to Euro Disney at least once in her/his life, it's that popular !
The legends theme park is cancelled, what a drag ! I just hope Dubailand stick to their word when it comes to building the other theme parks.

metroreporter

May 27th, 2008, 09:55 PM

Disneyland Dubai's generating some potential:

http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky052708a.htm

AK1990

May 28th, 2008, 12:49 PM

In the article they said that it's better to build a small theme park like HKDL, but I don't get it , Disney wouldn't be paying for a theme park in Dubai they'll actually be payed for designing the theme park and for the rights by some company like Tatweer !
What would they be losing ?!
Is Universal or Dreamworks paying to build the theme park or are they actually being payed for the rights ?

patchay

May 28th, 2008, 04:51 PM

TOURISM THEME PARKS DUBAI
A rundown

International Names
---
1. Universal City DubaiLand (by Universal Studios - Jurassic Park, King Kong, The Mummy)

2. LegoLand DubaiLand (by Merlin Entertainment)

3. DreamWorks Animation Park DubaiLand (by Dreamworks - Shrek, KungFu Panda, Sinbad, Shark Tale, Madagascar)

4. Six Flags Theme Park DubaiLand (by Six Flags)

5. Little Big Club DubaiLand (by HIT Entertainment - Barney, Pingu, Bob The Builder)

6. Marvel DubaiLand (by Marvel Entertainment - Spiderman, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk)

7. Paramount Theme Park Dubai (by Paramount Pictures - Titanic, Braveheart, Forest Gump, MImpossible)

8. Nickelodean Theme Park Dubai (by Nickelodean - SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer)

9. Worlds of Discovery on Palm Jebel Ali Dubai (by Budweiser's Anheuser-Busch Entertainment Division)
- SeaWorld
- Busch Gardens
- Discovery Cove
- Aquatica waterpark

Local Names
---
10. FreeJ DubaiLand --> www.freejdubailand.ae
11. Legends DubaiLand --> www.legendsdubai.ae [CANCELLED???]
12. AquaDunya DubaiLand --> www.dubailand.ae/pr_aquadunya
13. SnowDome DubaiLand

Smaller Parks
---
14. Giants World
15. Space World
16. Kids World
17. Aviation World
18. Fantasia
19. Astrolab
20. Sahara Kingdom

Sports
---
21. Dubai Sports City including Manchester United Football Academy
22. Dubai Motor City including world's first F1-x theme park and Dubai Autodrome
23. The Tiger Woods Dubai
24. The Polo and Equestrian Club

Recreation
---
25. City of Arabia including robotic dinosaurous theme park called "Restless Planet"
26. Falcon City of Wonders
27. Dubai Heritage Village/Vision (Jumana Secret)
28. Women's World
29. Dubai Outlet Mall
30. Islamic Culture City

Hospitality
---
31. Al Bawadi 31 themed hotels and resorts

Elsewhere
---
Wild Wadi Jumeirah Water Park
Dubai Studio City
Kerzner's Atlantis Palm Jumeirah
Cirque du Soleil Palm Jumeirah

GLobal Village, Al Sahra Desert Resort, the Polo and Equestrian Club, Al Barari, Dubai Giant Wheel

Neighbouring Dubai...ABU DHABI

- Abu Dhabi Louvre

- Warner Bros Theme Park Abu Dhabi to open in 2011 - Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, Superman

- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Theme Park - James Bond, Pink Panther, Rocky

- the world's first Ferrari Theme Park --> www.yasisland.ae

guys... feel free to add/update this list !!!

Wannaberich

May 28th, 2008, 07:16 PM

51 hotels at Bawadi not 31.

Parisian Girl

June 11th, 2008, 04:35 AM

The Dubailand building site

http://www.kippreport.com/slideshow.php?id=74

Parisian Girl

June 13th, 2008, 08:47 PM

World's Biggest Theme Park Rises in World's Biggest Playground

The Arab City of Dubai Is Building the World's Largest Theme Park

By LARA SETRAKIAN
DUBAI, U.A.E., June 13, 2008

Consider it the world's largest playground.
http://i26.************/ncfw38.jpg

Rising in the desert of Dubai is Dubailand, a theme park complex of immense scale that its creators hope will catapult the city into one of the top five tourist destinations in the world.

The city-state of Dubai, often called the "Las Vegas of the Middle East," also hopes to become the region's answer to Orlando, Florida.

By 2012, the Dubailand complex, a landmass roughly the size of Orlando itself, is set to host a crop of major theme parks. Six Flags, Universal Studios, Dreamworks, Marvel and Legoland will all open Dubailand outlets, their first in the Arab world.

As a business proposition, Dubailand is a massive real estate project that combines hotel, entertainment, residential and retail subdivisions.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5061166&page=1

Dubai_Steve

June 14th, 2008, 02:46 PM

Dubailand?

YRF theme park to come up in Dubai

Bollywood's largest entertainment house, Yash Raj Films, will soon launch a multi-billion-dollar theme park in the United Arab Emirates in collaboration with a leading investment company in Dubai.
The theme park, Yash Raj Films Entertainment District, would comprise a movie palace, unique hotel and a number of Indian genre entertainment concepts.

Yash Chopra has hailed the partnership with Dubai Infinity Holdings, saying it will make their foothold stronger in the Gulf region with Dubai aiming to be the most visited destination in the world by year 2015.

"All the components of the Yash Raj District will be themed around the Yash Raj banner," the Khaleej Times quoted Yash Chopra as saying.

The YRF brand is behind the success of South Asian blockbusters such as Veer Zara, Hum Tum, Bunty Aur Babli, Chak De India, in addition to the timeless classics, Kabhie Kabhie and Silsila.

Commenting on the partnership, DIH Chief Executive Officer Samira Abdulrazza said, "This is both an encouraging and exciting step for us. Bringing such an honoured name into the UAE has been a strategic move as it attracts the core demographic of the country.

"Furthermore, Indian cinema has an increased general following within the region, as cinema statistics highlight that Bollywood films gross higher than Western films. This will be a one-of-a-kind partnership here in the UAE, which we are very proud to be associated with."

The first phase of the Yash Raj Entertainment District is scheduled to be completed by 2012.

The-King

June 16th, 2008, 10:33 AM

model pics:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2576399592_55a651a112_b.jpg
Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2576399592/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2576399592/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575571355/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575571355/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575571621/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575571621/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575572099/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575572099/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2576402126/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2576402126/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575574037/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575574037/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2576403862/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2576403862/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575575247/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575575247/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575576399/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575576399/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
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Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575577353/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575577353/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2575577907_d5bb761a93_b.jpg
Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575577907/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2575577907/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2576407384_9b5e806894_b.jpg
Source: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2576407384/in/set-72157605599021373/
High-Res: http://flickr.com/photos/89127714@N00/2576407384/sizes/o/in/set-72157605599021373/

Parisian Girl

June 17th, 2008, 04:48 AM

Dubailand gets $3.5b Plantation

http://i26.************/c8hhl.jpg
The Plantation Hotel and Spa in Dubailand as it will look. The buildings in Plantation have been designed in the style of the late Georgian period. With features such as large verandas, they are protected from the heat.

By Suzanne Fenton, Staff Reporter
Published: June 16, 2008, 23:06

Dubai: In the early morning sunshine, activity on the $3.5 billion, 20 million-square foot Plantation project in Dubailand, was relaxed. Horses were being showered and brushed, a few cars passed us on the only roads carved through the project. Diggers grazed on the land.

Plantation has a construction value of $3.5 billion and is an equestrian project located just off Emirates Road. England rugby-pro, and now a director of Plantation, Tom Woolfe has a vision to build one of the world's finest equestrian facilities here.

Although the total land area is 20 million square feet, only eight per cent of this will be built-up. Comprised in the built-up area, will be a five-star hotel, operated by Southern Sun and 500 hotel serviced apartments. "The hotel will be up and running in two years and the first villas will be done by the end of next year," Woolfe said.

In the hotel itself, there will be six exclusive spa suites with their own treatment rooms and butler.

The serviced apartments, The Residences, are based on Eaton Square in Belgravia, an exclusive London district. Plantation will include only 110 plots which range from 40,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet.

On completion of the project there will be 800 stables, all staffed by professional polo players and show jumpers. 600 stables will be available to the public and the remaining 200 will be private. There will also be five polo fields, an indoor arena and a health club.

Plantation will offer lessons in show jumping, dressage, polo and eventing, catering to all age groups. With just over a hundred horses on site now, there will be 20 more arriving this year and 50 more next February.

In line with building green, there is also an on-site district cooling plant. "It will reduce the noise and environmental load but it is expensive. All our water pumps and the reservoir are solar-powered," Woolfe said. All of the polo fields are watered by sub-surface irrigation which saves water in the long run. Woolfe estimates that around one tenth of the water usually used will be saved.

Recycled water, or grey water, from the district cooling plant will also be used on the land.

With a potential community of 800 horses on completion, there is another fuel that will be available in ample supply. "The horse manure will be pelleted and used as a cooking fuel for stove burners in Africa," said Woolfe.

Woolfe said the buildings in Plantation have been designed to reflect the late Georgian period. By having features such as large verandas, they are protected from the heat.

The company is planning another four projects in Dubai over the next five years, with a combined value of $8 billion. When asked whether Plantation would be associated with the Dubai World Cup in the future, Woolfe smiled and said only that Plantation will host its first international polo events in April next year.

http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Development/10221543.html

bizzybonita

July 27th, 2008, 12:21 PM

1,000-room Dubailand hotel not likely to be constructed

Published: July 26, 2008, 23:24

Dubai: A 1,000-room hotel, Maritim Dubailand, which was scheduled by the German real estate fund "Dubai-1000-Hotel-Fonds", belonging to investment broker Georg Recker, will most likely never be built.

Investors received a letter from Recker's fund company, a German investor told Gulf News. The letter contained a resolution form that, if signed, would be nothing but a waiver of all claims and entitlements that derive from the fund engagement, according to the Deutsche Verbraucherschutzring (DVS), an investor and consumer watchdog in Erfurt, Germany.

Investors should refrain from signing any such documents sent to them by the "Dubai-1000-Hotel-Fonds", Claudia Lunderstedt-Georgi, managing director of DVS, said in a statement.

A criminal investigation has been started against Recker, according to public prosecutor Ina Holznagel in Dortmund, Germany. Recker is suspected of fraud and money laundering, Holznagel says.

Recker introduced the fund in 2005 on the German grey capital market to undertake a 1,000-room luxury hotel project in Dubai, promising a handover in July 2007.

Management

The project in Dubailand was planned to be managed by German hotel group Maritim Hotels, with whom Recker had signed a management contract.

Maritim spokeswoman Britt Winter told Gulf News in an email that her company has been informed by authorities about the public prosecution against Recker.

"They contacted us because we are a potentially aggrieved party," she said.

Maritim has applied for access to records and will then decide further proceedings against Recker, Winter said.

Gulf News has repeatedly tried to contact Recker to give him the opportunity to comment on the allegations. But phone calls to his office in Dubai Media City and several emails remained unanswered. A secretary of Recker's German office in Stuttgart said that "he is not present" and she is "not allowed" to say anything about his whereabouts.

Recker is a former accountant who engaged himself as a finance and investment advisor for wealthy private investors.

Travel agency

He is running a travel agency in Stuttgart, which organises tours to Dubai that sometimes include "investment seminars" at fancy places like the Burj Al Arab hotel.

He also publishes the German language Dubai Magazine, an upmarket lifestyle magazine designed to promote the booming city for investors and wealthy travellers.

Recker still advertises the phantom hotel on his homepage www.steuerlehrgang.de, but the information seems to be vague and outdated.

bizzybonita

August 3rd, 2008, 10:15 PM

Arabtec awarded Dubailand contract

http://adimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AD&Date=20080803&Category=BUSINESS&ArtNo=786483029&Ref=AR&Profile=1042&Maxw=300&Maxh=200

Arabtec Holding, the largest construction firm in the UAE by market value, has been awarded its second contract in a month from Emaar Properties – a Dh1.6 billion (US$435.6 million) deal to build 1,437 villas at the Bawadi project in Dubailand.

The company said today it would also be responsible for designing the properties at the project, which Emaar was developing in a joint venture with the Dubai Holding subsidiary, Tatweer, for about Dh60bn.

Emaar and Tatweer are developing 6.5 million square metres of land at Bawadi, a project that has an overall investment of Dh200bn and is set to be the largest hospitality and leisure development in the world. Arabtec’s new contract brings the value of its jobs in hand to about Dh38bn.

Other residential wins this year with Emaar include a Dh559m deal awarded last month for the construction of 550 villas at the Warsan development in Dubai, as well as a contract to build 68 homes at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club in Arabian Ranches.

Arabtec is also building 1,500 homes at the Al Furjan development in Dubai – another Nakheel project – in a deal worth Dh3bn. And it is working on a Dh411m villa project for the Sanctuary Falls development within Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The company set up a division called Arabtec Living to focus specifically on the construction of villas. The division has a workforce of about 15,000 employees.
“We only take on projects for which we know we can provide the workforce,” said Tom Barry, the general manager at Arabtec.

Mr Barry added that the company used a building system called “tunnel formwork”, which allowed for the quick construction of villas, for its projects with Emaar.

“This is a planned building mechanism that is used from project to project,” he said. “We can build about 10 villas a day using this system, then the plumbing and mechanical engineering work follows.”

In light of soaring construction costs, Arabtec also negotiates price escalation deals with its clients.

“[Prices for] building materials such as cement and rebar (steel reinforcement bars) are very volatile so we try to negotiate with clients that we proceed with the project using a cost weighting system – so if prices go up, then the client reimburses us at the end of the project.”

Last month Arabtec was also awarded a Dh638m contract by Cayan Investment and Development for the construction of two residential towers at Dubai Marina.

But its largest contract this year was a Dh10bn deal to build the 400-metre-tall Okhta Centre in St Petersburg on behalf of Gazprom Neft, the oil subsidiary of the Russian national gas company, Gazprom, and the City of St Petersburg.

Arabtec, which is the UAE’s only publicly listed construction firm, recently recorded a consolidated profit of Dh505m for the first half of this year, an increase of 191 per cent from Dh173m during the same period last year.

bizzybonita

August 3rd, 2008, 11:13 PM

DUBAILAND® to launch safety and prevention centre on-site

Dubai Civil Defence explores ways to enhance security services for projects and visitors at landmark destination.

DUBAILAND®, a member of Tatweer, today announced the completion of all prerequisites for launching a Safety and Prevention Centre offering civil defence and licensing services to investors, companies, and consultants developing landmark projects at the world’s largest tourism, leisure and entertainment destination.

Leading a high ranking team of Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) officials, General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, General Manager of Administration, conducted exhaustive site inspections, and issued instructions to DCD’s departments of Operations and Safety and Prevention, as well as other allied divisions, to work in conjunction with DUBAILAND® and immediately commence the construction of the centre after a thorough due diligence to identify its potential location onsite, range of end users, and scope of services.

Mohammed Alhabbai, Senior Vice President of DUBAILAND®, said: “We are proud to announce the development of a safety and prevention centre at DUBAILAND® with the cooperation of Dubai Civil Defence. This marks an emphatic step forward in our objective to deploy premium safety and security services to the entire project, including investors, contractors, and consultants. Located onsite, the centre will additionally ensure the security of all our visitors to DUBAILAND.”

Nour Mohammed Al Kindy, Public Relations Manager of DUBAILAND®, escorted the Dubai Civil Defence team on a tour of the development, elaborating on the models, master plan, and development phases of each project. Underscoring the services that DUBAILAND® offers to its investors, she emphasized the importance of coordinating with various government sectors such as Dubai Civil Defence that relentlessly contribute to ensuring a safe environment at construction sites.

During his visit, General Al Matroushi said the synergy between Dubai Civil Defence and DUBAILAND® will facilitate the implementation of relevant services for setting high benchmarks in safety and fire prevention throughout the project. He also reiterated safety services will be offered to everyone directly connected with DUBAILAND®, including workers, users and visitors, while seeking to achieve the overarching objectives of Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.

DUBAILAND®, a three billion sq ft development, will feature unique theme parks, rides, cultural adventures and other avenues of entertainment. Other projects owned by Tatweer at the DUBAILAND® destination include The Tiger Woods Dubai, Universal Studios DUBAILAND®, Global Village DUBAILAND®, DreamWorks DUBAILAND® Animation Park, Hit Entertainment “Little Big Club DUBAILAND®”, Six Flags DUBAILAND®, Marvel DUBAILAND®, FREEJ DUBAILAND®, and LEGOLAND® DUBAILAND®.

Exciting attractions such as Dubai Sports City, MotorCity, Falcon City of Wonders, Al Sahra Desert Resort, the Polo and Equestrian Club, Al Barari and City of Arabia are also part of DUBAILAND®’s overall offering.

sbksbksbk

August 17th, 2008, 07:45 AM

I hate these model pics; please show some activity on ground.
It's distressing that project anounced 4 years back not having a confirmed plan on paper.
Please don't anounce projects without concrete plans ,that is hammering image of Dubai.
Other cities like macau, singapur are moving fast with there projects inspite of ost burden
wake up Dubai

bizzybonita

August 17th, 2008, 08:34 AM

^^ you mean wake up DubaiLand :nuts:

LoverOfDubai

August 17th, 2008, 08:45 AM

aviduser

August 18th, 2008, 09:31 AM

Don't worry

By the time Dubai land is started the demand from the area will have dropped off and it will never be finished.

Here's how it works in this region:

Picture the scene two offices on opposite sides of the World a phone rings in Los Angeles.

Ring Ring

Sheik: "Hi this is Dubai... is that Universal studios ? can we give you 100 million dollars"

Universal Studios: "Er Hi this is Universal Studios.. you want to give us 100 million dollars"

Sheik: " Yes we would like to build a theme park in the Desert millions of people will come here you know"

Universal: "SO you want to pay us 100 million dollars, build a theme park with your money, and all we do is put our name on it."

Sheik: "That's pretty much it, we give you 100 million, we build and pay for it and you name it."

Universal:" So I have to give you the name"

Sheik:"That's it the name"

Universal:"For a 100 million dollars"

Sheik: "Yup you not heard ? Oil is 100 Dollars a barrel we are pretty rich you know"

At Universal a hand is held the over receiver we hear muffled " You gotta here this I'll put it on speaker..... there is a Sheik in Dubai.....(in background over heard, "where ?") doesn't matter where I think it's the Middle East...anyway he says he wants to give us 100 million and we just give them the name and rights to our theme park"

Universal: "OK Mr Sheik is that your name....? 100 Million you can build a theme park with our name on no problem. Let me just confirm...We don't actually have to pay anything or actually come over there right ?"

Sheik:" That's right we give you the money we build"

Universal:" Done transfer the money tomorrow"

Any if anyone can prove me wrong I would be surprised.

Richard Head

August 18th, 2008, 11:30 AM

^^ Yup, that's exactly how it happens, thanks for your well thought out contribution, you must be very well connected to understand the workings of Dubai so well :ohno:

aviduser

August 18th, 2008, 12:46 PM

Richard Head

August 18th, 2008, 06:51 PM

And I was paraphrasing. No I joke, but do you honestly think that with the current state of the USA economy that they would be investing in the Middle East ( yeah I know it's the Gulf but the yanks don't)

Dubai is shelling out the cash and they gain a theme park, it's essentially a very large and expensive franchise, I am not shocked by the number of theme parks that are supposed to be opened here exactly because of the lucrative financial terms offered to the owners of the theme parks.

I live in the region, I understand the economics and the realities of the place, others may just believe the hype.

Your understanding is essentially on track, but very very exaggerated. Yes the guys here have the cash to throw around and are making it relatively easy for the brand and intellectual property owners to get involved, the flipside is that if they didn't they would be left to rely on Modhesh and a bunch of other "characters" known only within the Arab world. Not convinced that would get Dubai to where it wants to go, what do you reckon?

Chakazoolu

August 19th, 2008, 03:36 PM

Ok heres one for ya, well 2 actually!

I reckon they will have a Disneyland here, and I reckon plans are already being made. They will get all the other world class theme parks in Dubai first, then they will announce Disneyland!!! Icing on the cake!

Also, before they announced Discovery cove, if you looked at the Palm Jebel Ali cresent plans, you could see that the area was left empty with no buildings.... so that means they had already planned it in, but did not announce it!

So.... go check the current plans for the universe!

If you see, that the MOON is empty, with no buildings, and so it the galaxy. So I reckon that both of those areas will have plans for theme parks, perhaps even Disneyland. An anchor developent for the universe.

That means apart from all the theme parks and attractions within Dubailand, you will have theme park destinations, on the palm jebel ali (discovery cove), palm jumeirah (Atlantis Aqua Venture), Jumeirah (Wild Wadi), Garhoud (New AED 600m project Wonderland), and theme parks on the universe. Perhaps even on Palm Deira????

If you think thats mad, well how bout this for mad!

I work for a Theme Park design company, and at this years DEAL show in Dubai, I met a kuwaiti investor who wanted to make the worlds first (and probably last) Oil theme park in Egypt..... YES thats right kids, Oil.
He was deadly serious, they were at the concept design stage, he showed me renderings on the park, which included a hotel. The hotel was themed as an oil refinery.
The oil theme park had different zones, fire zone, desert zone, and saddam zone... serious! yes he was...absolutely!

So kids.... you wanna go to Oil World?

aviduser

August 20th, 2008, 01:22 AM

Look think about this, Legoland England has annual visitors of about 1.5 million people a year. 80% of these are from England. England has a population of 56-60 Million people. London has a population of 7 million people.

I don't have to even begin to list UAE figures, but how can any projection of future figures be made from past increases, or from local demand.

I expect that not all these parks will be built, I imagine that Universal Et al will be taking a fee even if they are not built.

Dubai has definitely achieved critical mass when it come to attracting businesses of that I have no doubt. It is THE place to do business in the Gulf, the free zones have guaranteed that.

The tourism thing though I just cannot see how the figures add up, Dubai has a poor reputation for tourism and has no natural beauty or charm. Past figures have shown staggering growth but this forgets that no one came to Dubai or had even heard of it 10 years ago, to extrapolate figures from a base line of 0 is stupid, of course tourism has grown 10-20% a year, but from 0 that's not hard, we have already seen Tourism level out this year and Hotels were showing 70% occupancy, and that's before the negative headlines of sex on beaches and famous DJs being locked up.

Dubai will stay as an important business destination of that I have no doubt, the amount of prostitutes in town will ensure that, but as a tourism venue I estimate 8 million in a couple of years if that.

Richard Head

August 20th, 2008, 10:39 AM

Bit of a maths issue here. If tourism started from zero and added 10-20% annually, it would now be, errrr..............zero.

There are other fundamental economical reasons for the slight slowdown this summer. It's a blip. The general trend continues to be upward, and rapidly so, and will accelerate once these parks start to become reality. You don't honestly think that Dubai government, having already spent billions in conceptual design, licensing, marketing etc., will suddenly wake up one day and say "Hey guys, looks like we overestimated the demand for this stuff, can we just cancel it all and hope nobody notices?"

Chakazoolu

August 20th, 2008, 11:21 AM

The same is happening to Dubai that happened in Florida.

I supposed that there are alot of locall customers in the Theme Parks their, but pretty much are from abroad.

Footfall is from tourists, not locals, yes Wonderland was VERY busy 10 years ago, but because of bad management (you know who you are) and the wrong investment, then wonderland has decline terribly.

So the sustainability of these parks depend on sufficent footfall, which depends on the right management and right long term investment.
No doubt with the scale of investment they are pouring into these parks, management will be top priority!

Dubailand, and other attractions around Dubai... sorry the UAE, will be the biggest anchor in the world, and will get the figures they expect.

15 Million visitors a year?? easy, once Mall of Arabia opens, that will get a few million a year... and thats just a mall... and its classed as Dubailand... so easy!

Euromax

August 22nd, 2008, 08:36 PM

I disagree, vision and risk taking is good it is what has made Dubai a success so far. They need to get it done quicker before the dream is lost and replaced with residential projects which are found everywhere else in the world.

:lol: i hope to visit Dubai, in my near future , its an amazing place to discover.. DubaiLand is going to be a success, more investments will increase and more tourist, plus the increasing population of the country, specially Dubai City will benefit.:cheers::nuts:

AK1990

August 23rd, 2008, 09:19 AM

I made a little reaserch on the sizes of the parks and here's what I got :
(in Square feet) (m = million)

Popular theme parks outside of Dubai :

- Disney's Magic Kingdom : 4.6m
- Disneyland Park Paris : 6m
- Universal Studios Orlando : 4m

Local Theme Parks :

-Dreamworks Dubai : 5m
-Universal Studios Dubai : 6.5m
-Marvel Dubai : 4.5m
-Six Flags Dubai : 5m
-Legoland Dubai : 3m
-Freej Dubai : 1.2m

Imre

August 23rd, 2008, 11:51 AM

the whole Dubailand is just a big joke:)

22/aug/2008

Dubai Legends

still desert..

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2124/imresolt112uy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Imre

August 23rd, 2008, 11:52 AM

more joke:)

22/aug/2008

Downtown Dubailand

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2880/imresolt123ib3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7195/imresolt124vr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4534/imresolt125xl3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4534/imresolt125xl3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3946/imresolt127bm5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7827/imresolt129mg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

thats all:)

docc

August 23rd, 2008, 06:19 PM

What's the delay? Why are they taking so long to implment this?

Euromax

August 23rd, 2008, 07:09 PM

What's the delay? Why are they taking so long to implement this?
:ohno::bash:

i guest is because things like this take long time but long! man! you know how many things does arquitects, desingers, constructors ect have to do? a lot! and money also.. maybe they need more workers.:nuts:

Brummyboy92

August 23rd, 2008, 10:41 PM

Ok can someone tell me this, is there one thing under construction in the dubailand scheme!

bizzybonita

August 23rd, 2008, 10:42 PM

^^ Only a big boards on Emirate Road of all Dubailand projects i can guess !

Like this one for example

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2246/imresolt054pk0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)[/QUOTE]

Dubai_Steve

August 24th, 2008, 05:35 PM

Another Dubai first, the World's slowest construction.

Chakazoolu

August 25th, 2008, 11:32 AM

Dubailand is progessing, slow yes, but it is moving forward...

Projects Completed within the area allocated for Dubailand!
Al Sahra
Dubai Outlet Mall
Global Village Arabian Ranches

Dubailand Projects Currently Under Construction
City of Arabia
Bawadi
Dubailand Residences Complex
Liwan
Majan
Al Barari
Al Sahari Kingdom
Sports City
Remraam
The Villa
Universal Studios
Tigerwoods Dubai

I may have missed some out.
Shame most are residential, offices, retail, sport & hotel projects, guess they want short term financial gains.

Sell the concept of owning your home next to these theme parks to investors first, build the homes, people move in, then build a theme park for as little as possible, then decide to make a new concept called Dubailand 2. and do it all again!

Dubai_Steve

August 25th, 2008, 12:28 PM

So Universal Studios is the only theme park under construction after all these years :no:

Chakazoolu

August 25th, 2008, 04:20 PM

Well I think the Sahara project is some kind of attraction, and City of Arabia has Restless planet, but apart from that... yeah!

Irishka

August 31st, 2008, 02:31 PM

Sorry if I am posting in the wrong place, but I could not find a thread for Wadi Walk project?

I just wanted to find out any updates on this project...

Thank you in advance.

69er

September 6th, 2008, 08:26 PM

y do they take so long to construct something, they have the never ending Asian work force... its not like theres shortage of indians, pakis ect...

THE DUBAI GUYS

September 14th, 2008, 05:39 PM

is this the villa project???

Dubai Properties awards $544m villa contract
Last Updated: 14 September 2008 06:17

Local developer Dubai Properties has awarded the local Dubai Civil Engineering (DCE) the estimated AED2bn ($544m) contract to built 800 villas in Dubailand.

The project involves the construction of luxury villas and two types of townhouses. The estimated AED150m infrastructure package is currently being tendered (MEED 30:6:08).

The local Arch Group is the consultant for the project which is the latest residential scheme to be developed by Dubai Properties at Dubailand.

In April, DCE was awarded an estimated AED3bn to build 100 apartment buildings at the Remraam Community residential project in Dubailand.

The buildings will be arranged into four clusters, each with two sectors, and will range from four to seven floors.

The total built-up area of both packages is about 1.3 million square metres. The project is adjacent to Global Village and Bawadi Boulevard.

Earlier in 2008 Dubai Properties awarded Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corporation a AED400m ($109m) building package at its AED55bn Mudon development in Dubailand.

The contract was the second to be awarded to China State at Mudon. In 2007 it was awarded a AED500m contract for an earlier phase of building works.

R

bizzybonita

September 20th, 2008, 10:22 PM

Six-km monorail to link RTA's Purple Line

http://www.business24-7.ae/SiteLists/ArticlesEditedPhotos/9_20_2008/ArtclDtaPg_acca37f919f94cf4a8205088c1d91479_1.1.jpg

The monorail will internally link the City of Arabia, which will house about 40,000 residents, and no resident will have to walk more than 200 metres to reach a station. (SUPPLIED)

The Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari (IMG) Group has awarded a Dh500-million monorail contract for the City of Arabia to Metrail AG of Switzerland.

"The major highlight of the monorail is it uses a variety of energy-efficient options – battery, hybrid engine and solar energy. This makes it a first in this region," said Alex Vacha, Concept Architect and Deputy Director for Projects, City of Arabia in an exclusive interview with Emirates Business.

"We plan to start with a two-kilometre stretch in the initial phase. When completed, one station of the monorail is expected to link the City of Arabia with RTA's proposed Purple Line. We plan to house a station inside RTA's Metro station," he said.

The network will consist of about six km of dual guideway with 11 stations and six two-car trains. The first section of the alignment is planned to be operational in 12 to 18 months. The developer has not yet taken a final decision on whether commuters will pay for the services. "The monorail is currently planned as a service for residents and we have not yet looked at ticketing systems," said Vacha.

"The contract, was awarded to Metrail because of our commitment to provide a safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable transportation system within the City of Arabia. Metrail's unique and advanced green technology will add to Galadari Group's commitment to environment," said Ilyas Galadari, Chairman, IMG.

Metrail's rolling stock and systems are being developed in conjunction with Metrail's technical partner, Frazer-Nash Group of the UK. Italian-based Giugiaro Design will provide styling and engineering services for the rolling stock based on the innovative design and powertrain technology of Metrail/ Frazer-Nash.

"It made the difference between a viable public transport system and a subsidised one," said Mustafa Galadari, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, IMG.

The design and consultancy of the civil and infrastructure works will be provided by Sundaram Architects of India, whose principal, R Sundaram is the current President of the Structural Engineers World Congress. The safety and verification services will be provided by Scandpower of Norway.

"Metrail is delighted to have been selected by City of Arabia to supply its innovative hybrid monorail system to this prestigious project. Our monorail technology has evolved from more than 20 years of electric and hybrid electric research and development. Metrail is confident the success of the City of Arabia project will unlock the considerable potential for other Metrail monorail mass transit projects to be carried out not only in the UAE but also in the rest of the world," said Bill Armstrong, Chief Operating Officer, Metrail.

The Metrail system has lower capital costs and its recurring operational costs are about 10 per cent of those offered by five other multinational bidders, said Vacha.

"The technology cuts the viaduct costs, which comprises half the costs of building the monorail," said Vacha. "In this system, the rolling stock is lighter and so the viaduct is also lighter. In turn, the span beams get lighter and this cuts down the initial capital expenditure when compared to the standard monorail system." The carriages are constructed using the latest lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre and kevlar.

Besides this form of monorail does away with the power grid for traction. "The monorail uses an advanced form of kinetic energy recovery system. Any gaps in terms of energy will be supplemented by a low-voltage energy source, which will move the train.

"The monorail will also have solar panels on the roof. The running cost drastically goes down because you are using a fraction of the power of normal systems. The monorail has been an integral part of the project since the concept design stage," said Vacha. "We saw it as an alternative transportation system, when we did the concept design for the City of Arabia. It ties it in with rest of the vision. The monorail was seen as a people mover within a city of 40,000 residents. There are two stations in Mall of Arabia at two opposite ends. Its service frequency will be every five to six minutes and no resident will have to walk beyond 150-200 metres to reach a station."

Transportation was a key issue addressed from the inception of the project, he said. "The concept design was developed in such a way that people can use alternative modes of transport within the City of Arabia. Starting with Wadi Walk, the 10-km long river meandering through the project, which will encourage people to walk. Residents can also use the battery-operated boats or bridges to cross over to the other side. Besides, we will have pedestrian paths under the bridges. You can walk around the city without crossing busy roads and the monorail fits perfectly into the scheme of things," said Vacha.

City of Arabia is a $5 billion (Dh18.3bn) development in Dubailand. It spreads across 20m sqft and comprises retail, residential, commercial and entertainment facilities.

Its signature elements are Mall of Arabia, one of the world's largest malls; Restless Planet – a $300m theme park, an earth science museum and planetarium; Wadi Walk, a water front community; Elite Towers, a group of 34 commercial and residential buildings and the Metrail monorail, which will transport residents and visitors around the development.

On completion, City of Arabia will house about 40,000 residents and boast a catchment area with about 1.9 million people.

thethemeparkguy

September 21st, 2008, 01:31 AM

Impressions of Dubailand in summer 2008:

Sales office:
http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/filestore/themepark/dubailand/219/dula2-big.jpg

Sales office from a distance:
http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/filestore/themepark/dubailand/219/dula1-big.jpg

Falcon City of Wonders:
http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/filestore/themepark/dubailand/219/dula4-big.jpg

Legends Office in the background:
http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/filestore/themepark/dubailand/219/dula3-big.jpg

Universal Studios construction:
http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/filestore/themepark/universal-studios-dubailand/26/usd7-big.jpg

http://www.thethemeparkguy.com

Skyscraperneighbor

September 21st, 2008, 04:04 AM

thanx for the update

Parisian Girl

October 9th, 2008, 10:34 PM

http://i34.************/1hrpsw.jpg

Tameer, one of the largest private developers in the country, has launched Eye Park, a cluster of towers in Dubailand.

Anyone have any info as to where this one is located in Dubailand? Looks quite interesting.

Wannaberich

October 20th, 2008, 12:53 AM

Gulf News reports some projects will come under scrutiny because of the financial crisis.Some projects may be delayed or scrapped.
Dubailand hardly got off the ground during the good times.God knows what will happen now.

Wannaberich

October 20th, 2008, 12:55 AM

aviduser

October 31st, 2008, 12:08 PM

joobn

October 31st, 2008, 12:46 PM

why do they have to be american tourists?

Dark Matter

October 31st, 2008, 07:32 PM

Right now Dubai has Debt worth over 100% of GDP, that right now cannot continue.

Dubai will I am sure start to realise that it will only be a business destination with a few Tourists thrown in for good measure. The thoughts of it being a theme park capital are not going to happen.

Dubai simply is not a year round destination, theme parks by their very nature are outdoor attractions. I accept that sure you can put up shade and coolers and the like but you still actually have to get on and sit on a ride.

Imagine sitting on a roller coaster in 45C heat and 60% humidity, it's not going to be very pleasant. I know Florida is hot but it's never that bad !.

Universal probably has more indoor rides, perhaps, I'm not sure so that is totally fine, Legoland by contrast is almost totally an outdoor park.

Dubai will simply never attract the numbers needed to sustain the parks, thats why soon they will quietly go away.

Another thing that you have to realise is that the numbers published for tourists here do not say for how long or who they are. Are the numbers including business men on one night stops, intra Gulf weekend breaks, Gulf sex tourists (more than you think) etc.

You can't compare Florida with here, climate for a start, local population, availability of hotels etc are all different. Who for example could afford to bring a family here take to all the theme parks and still afford any of the 5* hotels here. Coming back to Florida one of the things that made it popular was fly drive, people flew in drove and booked and stayed in cheap Motels and Hotels across the state of which there were thousands and thousands.

Everyone just has to be realistic, look at the fundamentals of the region of he Country and of the World, Do you see Dubai being overrun with American tourists anytime soon.

300 Million Americans compared to 6 billion other people around the world.

Great math... and I'm technically math illiterate.

And before you get too how much money us Americans supposedly have, we simply aren't the richest in total. Many European countries have a great average income.

Also I hope you realize that one of the parks already announced that it will be fully air conditioned (Universal Studio's).

Last thing, never say never. People said building a structure that could house people at 800 meters (around 2,600 feet) wouldn't be possible. Look now.

EmiratesAirline380

October 31st, 2008, 07:57 PM

How many visitors will the whole of Dubailand generate a on a daily basis. Cause i remember reading somewhere that its going to be 250,000. But then someone told me that its going to be 40,000. Which one is it?

sarbaze tabarestan

October 31st, 2008, 08:41 PM

Right now Dubai has Debt worth over 100% of GDP, that right now cannot continue.

Dubai will I am sure start to realise that it will only be a business destination with a few Tourists thrown in for good measure. The thoughts of it being a theme park capital are not going to happen.

Dubai simply is not a year round destination, theme parks by their very nature are outdoor attractions. I accept that sure you can put up shade and coolers and the like but you still actually have to get on and sit on a ride.

Imagine sitting on a roller coaster in 45C heat and 60% humidity, it's not going to be very pleasant. I know Florida is hot but it's never that bad !.

Universal probably has more indoor rides, perhaps, I'm not sure so that is totally fine, Legoland by contrast is almost totally an outdoor park.

Dubai will simply never attract the numbers needed to sustain the parks, thats why soon they will quietly go away.

Another thing that you have to realise is that the numbers published for tourists here do not say for how long or who they are. Are the numbers including business men on one night stops, intra Gulf weekend breaks, Gulf sex tourists (more than you think) etc.

You can't compare Florida with here, climate for a start, local population, availability of hotels etc are all different. Who for example could afford to bring a family here take to all the theme parks and still afford any of the 5* hotels here. Coming back to Florida one of the things that made it popular was fly drive, people flew in drove and booked and stayed in cheap Motels and Hotels across the state of which there were thousands and thousands.

Everyone just has to be realistic, look at the fundamentals of the region of he Country and of the World, Do you see Dubai being overrun with American tourists anytime soon.

i as an iranian would love to come to dubai or kish in every month except juli august---there are enough hotels 3 and 4 star in dubai u can stay at and go for 1 day at dubailand!
in februar when in iran its fucking cold and u have 20 inch of snow u would u go dubai or kish with its warm weather!
middle east lacks dysneyland and i asure u sudis iranian iraqis syrians would prefer to go to dubai rather than europe!
cause very common culture,simmilar languages(except iranians) safety and nice clima and next to our country!
this sheikh has an vision and i tell u as an iranian he is changing the region!
there are manyiranians already in dubai and enyoing life wich the mullahs are making difficult for us!
dubai lacked a metro and some theme parks which are already under construction or planning stage

Dubai_Steve

October 31st, 2008, 10:51 PM

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/10/28/universal_dubailand_spread_2_10_27_.jpg

The latest from Universal Parks & Resorts is that its new theme park under development in Dubai will be uniquely under roof and air conditioned -- a significant feature in a place where the average daily high temperature can be well above 100 degrees all summer long.

“We’re very excited about our new resort property in Dubai. It will be the world’s first ’air-conditioned’ theme park and offers the guests the very best and pleasant outdoor experience the year-around,” Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts said in a statement.

According to Universal Parks & Resorts spokesman Joe Curley, the "guest experience" areas in the Universal Studios theme park in Dubailand will be climate-controlled approximately 80 to 90 percent, depending on the ride, show or attraction. This will be accomplished through a combination of traditional direct air conditioning applications and outdoor covered tempered-air, shade areas.

Curley and Williams were discussing Universal Studios Dubailand Tuesday in rsponse to inquiries about the new brochure, produced and posted by Chad Hunter Design. A page of that brochure, showing the various attractions lands, is shown above at right.

Curley explained that guest experience means all the areas of the park in which patrons might go, including ride path areas. This includes general public circulation spaces, food service, retail, restrooms, guest service areas, queues and attractions. All outdoor rides will maintain indoor climate-controlled environments in the queues (such as many of the Universal Orlando rides currently do: The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman; Dueling Dragons Roller Coasters, etc.) and the ride loading stations will be shaded tempered-air environments.

malec

November 1st, 2008, 12:41 AM

aviduser I agree with you. Very little of what dubailand is supposed to be (ie, shown in that insane model) will be built.

aviduser

November 1st, 2008, 10:32 PM

Right first things first, obviously Dubai is never gonna attract the Americans, obviously 99% of them won't be able to find it on a map and if they can they why would they bother coming over when there is nothing here that they could not get at home.

OK on to other matters, Disney Land Paris some of you may have heard of it, big brand right next to a World class City good travel links and a direct train from the UK to the front door, plus 50 the whole of Europe within 1 1/2 hour flight. How many visitors a year does it get ?

15.3 million

Pretty good figure but in 2006 they only made a 1.7 Million Euros Profit.

This is with the whole of continental Europe at it's door step. Plans for an MGM studios were dropped. Visitor numbers for Disney land Paris NEVER came upto expectations and this is Disney.

Take a quick look around Europe how many theme parks are there, why have Universal, or any of the others not opened up in a well populated and warm Country, Spain for example.

The answer is pretty bloody simple, money, they have done the maths they have seen how Disney fared and have decided that without major financial backing they would be looking at serious losses in at least the short to medium term.

Then along comes Dubai eager to make a name for themselves and offer to pay THEM to build THEIR theme park. Without the worry of a massive capital cost of building the park they figure why the hell not, after all they will get a cut of the profit should there ever be any and if not they are not out of pocket for a billion pound park.

Anyone who seriously thinks that any of these park would ever approach profitability or for that matter would ever be full is kidding themselves.

Dubai has a small population of people who could actually afford or want to go to one of these parks, will business men attend ?will weekend shoppers attend ? will the Saudi and other Gulf sex tourists attend ?

Universal may very well be built and it may very well be an excellent park, but looking at the fundamentals it's easy to see that these are going to be very big white elephants.

austinsteev1

November 3rd, 2008, 02:31 AM

Is there ANYTHING under construction in dubailand right now that will have RIDES???? You know.....rollercoasters and things like that? all i see is stuff about residential or hotel projects.....wheres the FUN stuff?:bash:

Wannaberich

November 3rd, 2008, 12:16 PM

I think Dubai should not rely too much on huge malls and theme parks to bring in the tourists.
It needs to diversify a bit more.For starters its beaches seem to be a little neglected.
They should have a string of bars,cafes,clubs,restaurants with large promonades as in Europe.Maybe a theme park or two on the beach also.
Dubai should also try to attract alot more concerts,pop,classical,opera,the works.
Theatres,museums,and on and on.

Richard Head

November 3rd, 2008, 06:57 PM

Wannaberich

November 3rd, 2008, 07:38 PM

Like the Promenades des Anglais in Nice for example? Totally agree. JBR, to be fair, is getting a lot better, and can only get better.

Nah,me was finking bout that one in Blackpool :)

Dubai_Steve

November 11th, 2008, 01:15 AM

Global Village set to showcase Dubailand attractions

The 13th edition of the Global Village will have an extended run of 102 days until February 21, 2009

http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Tourism_and_Travel/10258540.html

http://www.gulfnews.com/images/08/11/10/10_bz_global_village_1_supplied_5.jpg

http://www.gulfnews.com/images/08/11/10/10_bz_global_village_3_supplied_5.jpg

The Cebuano Exultor

November 18th, 2008, 07:26 PM

The-King

November 18th, 2008, 10:23 PM

and why do you think so The Cebuano Exultor?

Dubai_Steve

November 23rd, 2008, 06:34 AM

Dubailand is expected to play a key role in helping Dubai achieve its goal of attracting 15 million tourists a year by 2015, but the development is facing a number of challenges that are impacting the scope and delivery of the project.

Dubailand is billed as the world's most ambitious leisure and entertainment project, designed to boost the position of Dubai as an international hub of family tourism.

The $64bn development will cover an area of three billion square feet on the outskirts of Dubai and contain around 45 mega projects and 200 subprojects.

Launched in 2003, Dubailand was originally scheduled to open by the end of 2007, but the launch date for phase one of the development has since been revised to late 2010.

One of the main reasons cited as to why Dubailand has fallen behind schedule is that that the development has been slow to complete its basic roads and infrastructure.

Another factor that is starting to impact the development is the global financial crisis. The start of work on Asia Asia, a 6,500-room hotel that is to be the largest in the world, and the centrepiece of the Bawadi development in Dubailand, has reportedly been delayed by one year due to the credit crunch.

Numerous delays

'We are hearing a lot of negative things about Dubailand,' said Claude Attala, Managing Director, Business Development, NorthCourse, Middle East. 'Will it open in 2010? I don't see that happening. 2012 seems more likely.'

One project, Snowdome, has been shelved altogether due to issues over costs. A number of other projects have idled for years without even breaking ground.

'I think the initial problem with Dubailand was that the subdevelopers had no idea how to build theme parks,' Attala said. 'They had no idea what they were getting into. Building a theme park is not as simple as constructing a hotel.'

In the early days of Dubailand many of the projects were given over to private developers and investors. However, the Dubai government has recently gotten more involved in the development. State-owned Tatweer - which owns Dubailand - has been the sole developer on the latest projects that have been announced, including Six Flags and Dreamworks.

In any case, it appears that Dubailand is revising the scope of the development. 'There will be a scaled down approach. How much I don't know. Will we see 60,000 hotel rooms at Bawadi? I don't think it is conceivable,' Attala said.

Greater urgency

It also seems clear that there is a greater sense of urgency to get Dubailand off the ground. 'Dubailand is eager to deliver a critical mass of projects in as short a timeframe as possible to help give the development some momentum and create a buzz about the project,' said an industry source.

Dubailand as master developer had initially sold land at low prices to private developers who were to build the development's theme parks, but many of these companies have failed to deliver their projects in a timely manner.

With so much at stake, Dubailand has taken over control of some of the projects that have fallen behind schedule and will build the parks themselves. In April, Tatweer, which is a subsidiary of Dubai World, said it had taken control of the development of the Marvel Super Heroes theme park.

Most recently, Tatweer has taken control of Al-Kaheel, a $436m development that will feature an equestrian centre, indoor and outdoor arenas, 400 villas, and a hotel.

However, questions have been raised about how Dubailand will be able to finance these projects given the current liquidity crisis. 'With banks tightening their lending Dubailand will find that that their prospects for obtaining funding are limited,' the source said.

Optimism remains

Despite the delays that have plagued Dubailand, there is optimism that the development will be a success. 'Dubailand has had a few hiccups but they have the ambition to pull this off,' Attala said. 'There will be more projects announced, but not at the pace we were seeing a year ago.'

Dubailand is wise to be focusing on projects that are currently underway, rather than ones that are on the drawing board, said John Podaras, Operations Manager at TRI Hospitality.

He believes that the success of Dubailand hinges on the residential developments that are being built alongside many of the theme park projects. 'Simply building a massive theme park is not enough for it be a success. It needs to have a substantial population mass right next to it,' he noted.

Hotels in Dubai are not feeling anxious about the delays hitting Dubailand because occupancy levels remain high in the emirate due to the shortage of rooms that still exists. They also say they are not threatened by the huge influx of new hotels that are planned for Bawadi, because they feel that the travellers who come to stay at Dubai's beach hotels are different from the tourists who are going to stay out in the desert, Podaras said.

Even if Dubailand is scaled back, it is still realistic that Dubai will hit its target of 15 million tourists a year by 2015, Attala said. The emirate has a number of other big attractions that have either already been built or on the way, including Atlantis and the QE2.

He points out that Las Vegas attracts 44 million tourists a year, but only 30% of these visitors go there to gamble. The remaining 70% of tourists are family visitors. One must also not forget that more than 300 million people live near Dubai, so there is a 'captive audience'.

And despite its growing pains, Dubailand is poised to be a huge attraction for the emirate. 'Dubailand will be a great indicator of where Dubai is going,' Attala said. 'It will be a bit of an embarrassment if they fail, but I don't think they will. I am a believer in the Dubai story. Once they put their mind to something it usually gets done.'

AME Info could not reach Dubailand for comment on this article.

http://www.ameinfo.com/176091.html

crazyeight

November 23rd, 2008, 07:22 PM

I just hope they stop incorporating residential units in Dubailand.

Parisian Girl

November 25th, 2008, 04:08 AM

http://www.tameer.net/projects/eye_park.asp

Thx Wannaberich :cheers:

Parisian Girl

November 25th, 2008, 04:49 AM

IMHO, DubaiLand would be the next victim in the worsening global financial crisis.

It will never achieve the vision and ambition that it once set for itself, in the forseeable future.

But, I do like to see Universal Studios DubaiLand, Six Flags DubaiLand, and the Marvel Theme-park to be up-and-running in the coming years.

I dunno... I wouldn't be so sure about that Cebuano Exultor. The financial doom and gloom won't last forever, those black clouds will eventually roll on by and we will see blue skys again. Nothing lasts forever. Of course, we all know perfectly well that DubaiLand will take many years to be fully realized, so u really have to look at this in the long term.

DubaiLand may never achieve exactly what they say it will/can be, not any time soon that's for sure, but this is Dubai, they don't do things by halfs, u can bet they'll throw everything but the kitchen sink at this to make it happen. And that's not just wishful thinking on my behalf either. Personally, I am most looking forward to seeing COA and FCOW come together.

But, I do also believe that DubaiLand can't entirely rely on the massive malls and theme parks to work.

IMHO, DIVERSITY will be the key to success here.

I think Dubai should not rely too much on huge malls and theme parks to bring in the tourists.
It needs to diversify a bit more.For starters its beaches seem to be a little neglected.
They should have a string of bars,cafes,clubs,restaurants with large promonades as in Europe.Maybe a theme park or two on the beach also.
Dubai should also try to attract alot more concerts,pop,classical,opera,the works.
Theatres,museums,and on and on.

Totally agree.

aviduser

December 2nd, 2008, 09:17 AM

And kinda miss the bigger picture. Las Vegas has a "captive" population of 300 Million. With a GDP (PPP) of $45,000

The 300 Million surrounding Dubai well:

Egypt $5,495
Lebanon $11,279
Saudi Arabia $22,852
Syria $4,492
Iran $10,570

Not that high really.

Reading the article was fascinating though as it kind of proves my theory that the Private developers has a huge reason to bribe American Studios into lending their names to projects to then gain further investment.

The way Dubailand was set up was destined to fail with this set up as there simply were not enough developers to maintain or manage these projects.

Dubailand will not now ever happen. It's kinda amazing anyone thought it ever would.

Wannaberich

December 2nd, 2008, 09:28 AM

^^Is the figure 2 billion people within a 2 hour flight of Dubai?thats not bad.
Further than that,in the future expect many 'city breakers'from Europe to go to Dubai for a few days.Especially those many who go to New York for Christmas shopping(been told the shops arent all that)
U can either go there and freeze or try Dubai with the largest mall in the world with all those top brand names.

aviduser

December 2nd, 2008, 08:34 PM

That is not going to happen Wannaberich.

Has anybody been reading any of the other posts on this site, it seems every body is having the same problems, either their project is on hold, the project hasn't started, the project is finished and the standard is poor or the project is finished and the management now want 25,000 Dhs for maintenance.

What has been fascinating for me is that after reading over and over all the horror stories I got out while I could and actually made a profit on my investment.

This website has been an amazing resource, for months now you could see the growing crisis, and now all of a sudden the bubble has not just popped it bloody well exploded.

And yet in post after post the clues were there. The papers are only now reporting what is going on, to be honest when you go through the post's on this site you can see that things are actually WORSE than in being currently reported.

It really beggars belief.

Wannaberich

December 2nd, 2008, 09:14 PM

^^You're being very shortsighted.U need to look at Dubai longterm.Forget whats happening right now,or what will happen next year or even the year after.Think of where Dubai will be in 5/6/7 years time etc.
Theres enough reason to feel very optimistic not so pessimistic.

Dubai_Steve

December 5th, 2008, 05:38 PM

The Dubailand project is to be reviewed in light of the global financial crisis according to Khalid Al Malik, chief executive of Tatweer, the project's developer.

The economic climate has seen developers across the Gulf region reassess their plans in light of the difficulty of obtaining operating capital at maneagable interest rates.

Malik said that although the project is going forward as planned for now, the company and government officials are "assessing the current situation and are working out a plan, which will be publicily announced.

"We are committed to completing and delivering these projects because we know that this is the only way we can achieve our 2015 tourism vision," he continued.

Dubailand is one of the most complex and ambitious projects in Dubai's history and the masterplan includes 45 theme-based projects made up of amusement parks, hotel complexes and leisure facilities, all geared towards attracting families.

aviduser

December 6th, 2008, 12:50 AM

In other words this aint gonna happen.

I read, I am not sure on this site or in the papers that Dubailand was the Master Project name and plots were sold to sub developers for them to develop.

OK so I am no economic genius but to me it seems like the government of Dubai keen to raise cash came up with an Idea of Dubailand and basically sold plots of land in the Desert a sky high prices thus generating cash out of nothing.

To be honest you have to hand it to Dubai Inc it was a genius plan. Money literally for nothing. The sub developers had no clue how they could build a theme park let alone raise the money for them. The best the subs could come up with was laying out huge "bribes" to American Studios to use their name on their theme parks. I mean really sit down and think about what Dubai was trying to do here, they wanted to build at least 6 major theme parks in a Country too hot to go outside 6 months of the year.

England doesn't have 6 major theme parks and there is a population of almost 60 million. France has 2 I can think of, Spain 1 major park.

Did anybody honestly think this was viable, to be honest to me this Dubailand project was the nail in the coffin that convinced me that there was no fundamentals and absolutely no sense behind the Dubai story.

Dubailand pretty much sums up the whole sorry mess of Dubai.

docc

December 6th, 2008, 05:27 AM

^^ I'm bored...

The Cebuano Exultor

December 6th, 2008, 08:10 PM

England doesn't have 6 major theme parks and there is a population of almost 60 million. France has 2 I can think of, Spain 1 major park.

Did anybody honestly think this was viable, to be honest to me this Dubailand project was the nail in the coffin that convinced me that there was no fundamentals and absolutely no sense behind the Dubai story.

I believe that not all projects that were announced for DubaiLand will ever get past the drawing board. However, I strongly believe that Universal Studios DubaiLand has a very good chance of getting off the ground.

Dubai is the unquestioned financial, trading, and leisure hub of the Middle East. The development of a Universal Studios, here in Dubai, is very welcome.

Wannaberich

December 6th, 2008, 08:43 PM

Which theme parks have been started.I know 1 or 2 have been so which?

The Cebuano Exultor

December 8th, 2008, 12:51 PM

^^ Universal Studios DubaiLand already has a bunch of "T"-cranes put-up. :)

jixline

December 10th, 2008, 07:36 AM

^^ also F1X in motorcity

Adel

December 17th, 2008, 11:07 AM

I believe that not all projects that were announced for DubaiLand will ever get past the drawing board. However, I strongly believe that Universal Studios DubaiLand has a very good chance of getting off the ground.

Dubai is the unquestioned financial, trading, and leisure hub of the Middle East. The development of a Universal Studios, here in Dubai, is very welcome.

Dubai is not the financial hub of the Middle East, Bahrain is. The rest I agree :)

Wannaberich

December 17th, 2008, 11:15 AM

Dubai is not the financial hub of the Middle East, Bahrain is. The rest I agree :)

For the time being it is

Adel

December 17th, 2008, 01:50 PM

For the time being it is

Time being and forcible future too, especially after the credit crisis it has proved it's position even more. It didn't even need to inject any cash into it's banking system or even guarantee deposits while Dubai ......... well do I need to elaborate.

Julito-dubai

December 29th, 2008, 05:26 PM

http://www.ghayavillas.com/

a new development in Dubailand by Mizin. I think it replaces this horse racing project with villas included....

Julito-dubai

December 29th, 2008, 06:04 PM

http://www.albarari.com/Home.mvc

A new website

Galandar

December 30th, 2008, 06:23 AM

I have no words to say, just perfect! Dubai rulezzz

jixline

December 30th, 2008, 11:27 AM

http://www.ghayavillas.com/

a new development in Dubailand by Mizin. I think it replaces this horse racing project with villas included....

Thank Julito, it is replacing Al Kaheel ( that Imre said it is cancelled)
we need a new Thread for this one :)

docc

December 30th, 2008, 11:53 AM

Ghaya Villa's are way toooooooo far out in the desert. Many people say that Arabian Ranches is too far out; wonder what they are going to say for this and Mudon.

jixline

January 27th, 2009, 06:48 AM

:ohno:

Dubailand to review plans in face of global downturn
Once complete, the project hopes to attract 40,000 visitors a day (MUSTAFA KASMI)
Print storyContact newspaper editorSend to a friend
By

Parag Deulgaonkar on Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Dubailand, a member of Tatweer, is preparing to review its plans to ensure they are in line with any changes made to the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, a top executive said.

This follows the announcement by Nasser bin Hassan Al Shaikh, Director-General of the Dubai Department of Finance, that the government is re-examining the plan in view of the global economic crisis. More details are due to be released in the coming months.

Mohammed Al Habbai, Dubailand's Senior Vice-President, told Emirates Business: "In the light of the economic situation we need to revisit our strategy and ensure alignment with the Dubai Strategic Plan and Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

"Dubailand's key mandate is to be in line with the 2015 plan for travel and tourism. We will embrace any new directions."

The Dubai Strategic Plan, which was announced in February 2007, was based on an expected 11 per cent annual growth in gross domestic product (GDP) to Dh396.36 billion by 2015. This would translate into a 41 per cent growth in per capita GDP to Dh161,480, which would be achieved by creating 882,000 new jobs – bringing the total number employed up to 1.73 million.

Dubailand's master plan incorporates 45 theme-based projects including amusement parks, hotel complexes and leisure facilities, all geared towards families.

Most of the projects, such as Dubai Sports City, City of Arabia, MotorCity, Golf City, Palmarosa, Taaleem and Dubai Lifestyle City, are going ahead as planned, said Al Habbai.

Al Sahra Desert Resort, Global Village, Dubai Autodrome and Ernie Els Golf Course are some of the attractions that are already operational, while the cricket stadium in Dubai Sports City and Union Properties' F1-X theme park are expected to become operational by the second and fourth quarter, respectively.

More than 20 projects, including residential areas, have been signed off for development as part of the first phase. The value of the entire development, which is expected to be completed in four phases by 2020, is estimated at Dh237bn.

Once the project is complete, the developer hopes to attract 40,000 visitors a day and contribute to Dubai's plans to lure 15 million tourists a year by 2015, compared with 7.7 million last year.

Asked if the timeframe for the opening of attractions had changed, Al Habbai said: "We constantly review our business priorities and resources, especially during the downturn, to ensure that we have a robust organisation and a realistic delivery schedule, attuned to market conditions and requirements.

"We conduct continuous audits on all of our projects to provide support and aid to their progress. One of our key mandates is to prioritise what gets delivered first."

Dubailand, which has exclusive tie-ups with international companies such as Six Flags, Marvel, Universal Studios, etc for the Middle East, has no plans to diversify into the licensing business.

"We are very proud to have acquired strategic tie-ups with some of the top brands within the theme park and entertainment industry. However, at this time there are no plans to diversify into licensing."

In response to a question on when Dubailand expected to break even, Al Habbai said the development was a mixture of business models, whereby some investment was coming from private investors in addition to Tatweer's investments.

"Our main focus is to support all these investments to deliver the projects and to support the offering of every development to drive and increase tourism numbers into Dubai. In the build-up to our first phase launch by the end of 2010 several projects will be delivered and start building their customer base. The breakeven forecast is staggered due to the different launch dates," he added.

http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2009/1/Pages/01272009_505e7e72d26b4ef595f71e6c79662763.aspx