Legoland Dubai to go ahead

Dubai: Home of the theme park?

Dubai is getting the monopoly on the world's coolest theme parks. Not content with already having (or currently finishing) Ferrari World, Warner Brothers Theme Park and the 45 'mega projects' lined up for Dubai's City of Arabia such as Disney's Animal Kingdom, Sahara Kingdom, Six Flags Dubailand and the Marvel Superheroes Theme Park, they are also getting a Legoland!

While many of the emirate's lavish theme parks, such as the majority planned for the City of Arabia, have been scaled back or postponed in the wake of the global recession and the Dubai debt crisis, the developers behind Legoland Dubai have said the project will go ahead despite the slowdown in the construction sector.

Building a theme park

The development, which is a partnership between UK-based attractions operator Merlin Entertainments Group and Dubailand developers Tatweer, was originally scheduled to open next year, but obvious reasons have delayed the park's construction not to mention its opening.

The project was revealed in 2008 when Merlin, who is world's second largest visitor attraction operator, announced a strategic alliance with Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holdings, to create Legoland Dubailand.

The project was priced at $248.28 million and would occupy a total of three million square feet inside Dubailand. It would feature more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions and would be the first Legoland outside of North America and Europe.

Tatweer and Merlin have also stated in the past that it would be interested in setting up a Madame Tussauds museum in Dubai, but it appears those plans have been put on hold with the two companies focusing entirely on getting Legoland Dubai up and running.

Last year was a extremely profitable year for the Lego Company with Star Wars and Lego City products generating huge profits.

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Abu Dhabi's 'People's Park' | Is Dubai's City of Arabia still on track? | Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi

Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

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