Abu Dhabi: The Leisure Show Dubai is set to take place between September 28 and 30 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with over 18,000 attendees expected from the global hospitality industry.
The show will also host 700 exhibitors.
The show comes as the UAE looks to rival global tourist destinations by 2020, with projects in development that include Dubai-I, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Dubai Pearl, Dream Island in Ras Al Khaimah, and 10 new theme parks.
The Dubai-I will be the world’s largest Ferris wheel, modelled after the London Eye, while the Dubai Pearl will feature an MGM Grand Hotel and Bellagio, made famous by the Las Vegas strip. The Dream Island in Ras Al Khaimah will be promoted as a ‘mini Ibiza’ as the new theme parks and the two safari parks rival Orlando.
“The next five years will see a transformation of the UAE’s leisure and entertainment offering. Unique concepts include the world’s first Bollywood theme park, part of the Dubai Parks and Resorts development, and the new Warner Bros. resort on Yas Island, while some of the best attractions and tourist destinations in the world are being re-imagined,” said Phil Taylor, director of Team Leisure.
The Dubai-I, designed to be around 100 metres bigger than the London Eye, will be operated by Merlin, who also operate the London Eye.
According to recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the UAE’s leisure and entertainment market has the potential to increase 70 per cent on 2015 figures to encompass 45 million people by 2021.
International tourists will account for 31 million of those, whilst residents and their families will account for a further 14 million.
PwC expects theme parks in the country’s pipeline to attract 18 million visits by 2021 versus Singapore’s 6.7 million, and Hong Kong 15 million.
