Dubailand to challenge Disneyland

Dubai: Dubailand, a giant leisure and entertainment zone being developed in Dubai, will compete with Disneyland within five years for a share of the European tourism market, chief executive officer Salem Bin Dasmal said.

Describing Dubailand as "Disneyland on steroids," he said Dubai's project would offer more attractions than Disneyland.

"I think we offer far more than Disney. They do not have a planetarium or a dinosaur park," he said.

Another major attraction planned at Dubailand is Dubai Eye, which Bin Dasmal said will be larger than the London Eye.

"We have theme parks and Disney has theme parks. We have water parks, Disney has water parks. So in that respect we compete in the same space," he told Gulf News. Dubailand will have 50 attractions and hopes to attract six million tourists by 2012.

"In the near-term our focus will be on becoming a regional destination, but I think we will be up to the challenge five years from now," Bin Dasmal said.

Asked if Dubai was aiding commercialisation of the Arab heritage and contributing towards its "Disneyfication," the Dubailand chief said: "We attract people from all over the world. We attract Arabs, Iranians, Indians and Europeans. So you need to have a product that is appealing.

"At the end of the day, you are a tourist destination. At the heart of it is commercialisation," he added.