Wednesday 25 May 2011
Sunday 22 May 2011
Dubailand rises from the sand
A billion-pound entertainment park in Dubai has taken its first step to becoming reality.
Bosses of 'Dubailand' broke ground in a ceremony which marked the development of three billion square feet of land in the UAE state popular with Brits.
The Universal Studios theme park will feature five areas with different themes, known as 'lands'.
Costumed characters from each land at the ceremony included Woody and Winnie Woodpecker from Surf City Boardwalk, a Raptor from Epic Adventures, and two fierce Nubian Guards from the Land of Legendary Heroes.
Hollywood and New York will make up the remaining two lands.
When completed in December 2010, the theme park plans to open 55 on-site hotels and 'comfortable residential communities'.
Planned attractions include the Dubai Wheel, which aims to be the biggest in the world and eclipse the London Eye.
And it is claimed visitors will be able to see distances of up to 50km.
The company's website also says there will be a 'gigantic' water theme park, a manmade beach and reef with thousands of tropical fish, dolphins and sharks plus a cruise ship-shaped resort with 400 rooms.
The attraction will join the Universal Studios group of entertainment parks in Hollywood, Florida, Japan and Singapore.
Laurent Jean Jean, Vice President of Universal Studios Dubailand, said: 'We are proud to announce the ground breaking of Universal Studios Dubailand, the premiere theme park in the Middle East and the star of Dubailand.
