IMG Worlds of Adventure is the largest indoor theme park on the planet. The complex boasts several attractions based on popular Marvel and Cartoon Network characters.
Dubai has a plan. It’s to become a tourist destination specialising in large-scale theme parks. The main capital of the United Arab Emirates is fully aware that its oil reserve isn’t going to last forever and has started to implement a tourism based business model that is now very much a reality. Dubai is well-known for concepts connected with the city like skyscrapers, extravagance and excessive luxury but shortly it will have to also add the term “fun for all the family” to the list.
The metropolis which holds the record for the tallest building on the planet must also chalk up another: the largest indoor theme park in the world. It covers an area of 140,000m2, which is the same size as 28 football pitches, a colossal space with the capacity to welcome 20,000 visitors a day.
Construction was carried out over three years and cost a whopping one billion US dollars. The theme park is home to 21 attractions, 28 restaurants and 25 shops. It’s no surprise then that the complex comes with cutting-edge air-conditioning technology so visitors can enjoy the park even with the suffocating summer temperatures making it able to stay open throughout the year.
Among its most thrilling attractions is the Velociraptor, the highest and fastest roller coaster in the United Arab Emirates. This epic ride sends you flying at more than 100 km/h in less than three seconds around a mind-blowing eight loops. The park has other attractions based on characters from Marvel and Cartoon Network like Iron Man, Spiderman, Hulk, the Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10 and a vast Dinosaur adventure zone that’s sure to delight the little ones.
IMG Worlds of Adventure is owned by the Ilas & Mustafa Galadary Group which directly employs 1600 people and hopes to attract 4.5 million visitors during its first year. As always, being the biggest in these matters and these parts of the world is something short-lived, there is now a bigger theme park (not all of it is covered) in Dubai, and it’s already open for business. Dubai Parks and Resorts is located on the outskirts of the city and cost 3 billion US dollars. The park includes a Lego Land, Bollywood Parks Dubai and a spectacular water park.
According to local analysts, existing parks and those that are yet to come will attract more than 18 million visitors to these complexes from now to 2021. Unsurpassed magnitudes and challenges that add to the already characteristic extravagance in this corner of the planet.
