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| Aerial view of IMG Worlds of Adventure |
Giving Universal and Disney a run for their money the Persian Gulf states are dialing-up their entertainment investments in a big way. This month the Galadari family is opening a theme park in Dubai. The park will feature Marvel comics Spider-Man and The Hulk and other ventures that are aimed at keeping their thrill-seeking brethren at home, as well as, lure-in foreign tourists.
Called IMG Worlds of Adventure, the park is equal in size to 28 football fields and sits in the middle of the desert - but the park is totally enclosed! In addition to the superhero attractions will be 69 life-sized robotic dinosaurs and a complete haunted hotel (where guests can stay). "Because virtually the entire park is indoors really gives us a competitive edge as we can run 12 months out of the year without weather issues", Leonard Francois Otto, CEO of IMG World told CMG.
Gulf countries from Saudi Arabia to Dubai are betting big on entertainment and tourism as a hedge against the the uncertainties of oil revenues. Dubai expects to attract 20 million tourists a year by 2020, the year in which it will sponsor the World Expo. They are targeting Gulf and Indian visitors as there is a significant absence of entertainment destinations in the Gulf region and Indian subcontinent.
U.S. based companies such as Six Flags and Disney are lending their expertise. The world's fastest roller coaster is currently located in Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi. The park is entirely centered around the Italian luxury car. Also in Abu Dhabi is the on-going construction of a Warner Brothers park which will be based upon the studio's best-known characters, including: Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny.
Sound like a good bet for the Gulf states as everyone likes to be amused and entertained and it can all happen in a cool, air-conditioned space.
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