The UAE’s project market appears to be back on track, although experts agree that it is a slow recovery. Developers have made media announcements in recent months after nearly three years of inactivity, and a host of new projects are being promoted in Dubai.
Speaking at the launch of the Mohammad Bin Rashid City last November, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said, “The current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the city. We have to start work immediately on the third phase of development that is aligned with our vision until 2030 and boost the UAE economy to enable it to enter a new era in which it will become the capital of entrepreneurship, arts, culture, and family tourism for more than two billion people.”
He highlighted that the current accelerated growth rates require Dubai to start immediate preparations for the future because within just six years the number of passengers passing through Dubai airport will reach more than 90 million people.
We look at some of the recent projects announced for Dubai.
Biggest Ferris wheel
In February, Shaikh Mohammad unveiled Bluewaters Island, a new development scheduled for construction off the Jumeirah Beach Residence area. The island’s main attraction will be the Dubai Eye, a 689-foot tall Ferris wheel, the largest in the world, which will look out over landmarks such as the Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa. At the base of the wheel will be an entertainment area, and around it will be retail, residential and hospitality zones.
Abdullah Al Habbai, Chairman, Meraas Holding, the project developer, says, “The Dubai Eye will serve as yet another iconic structure and will distinctively dominate the Dubai skyline. We are confident Bluewaters will develop into a key attraction for the UAE, further enhancing Dubai’s status as the preferred global entertainment and retail hub.”
The project, whose design and construction will be undertaken by Hyundai Contracting and Starneth Engineering, is to be built on reclaimed land for a cost of Dh6 billion with construction reportedly set to commence by June. It is planned to open on December 31, 2015.
The Indian film industry will be leveraged through Bollywood Parks, which will be part of a Dh10-billion destination in Jebel Ali that will feature five Florida-style theme parks based on movies, animals and fun characters, to appeal to all demographics.
Also being developed by Meraas Holding, this project will focus on delivering a multifaceted leisure and entertainment experience to residents and tourists of Dubai on 30 million square feet of land. The first phase of the development, Dubai Adventure Studios, will anchor the new destination. It will host popular Hollywood brands and showcase a range of adrenalin-pumping rides.
For the Bollywood aspect, Meraas has partnered with several major film studios in Mumbai so as to source authentic content, while a large theatre will stage Broadway-style musicals. A third aspect will be a water and marine life park, showcasing aquatic life, animal encounters and live shows, and a fourth will cater to the needs of toddlers, preschoolers and primary school children. Lastly, a night safari will creatively showcase the many adventures of the wild desert. The first phase is expected to open in 2014.
Universal appeal
Hollywood’s Universal Studios received more than 30 million visitors at its theme parks last year. As it targets further growth, brand theme parks have been reported in Moscow, Seoul and Dubai. Universal is to advise on a new project in Dubai, a family entertainment centre that will be part of the Mohammad Bin Rashid City.
No timeline or price tag has been announced.
Cartoons and superheroes
In February, the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group announced a partnership with Turner CN Enterprises to bring a dedicated Cartoon Network Zone to the IMG Theme Park. Located within the City of Arabia development, the park will have four themed zones.
An agreement with Marvel Entertainment for a 350,000-square-foot indoor family amusement centre, Marvel Adventure, was announced last July with an opening date set for the end of this year, at the time of launch. “We are very pleased to partner with Turner CN Enterprises. The launch of the Cartoon Network Zone will position us as the key theme park operator in the region,” said the group in a statement during the launch.
The overall area for the themed entertainment destination will be 1.2 million square feet in its first stage.
