IMG Worlds of Legends will be located next to the existing theme park, connected by a sky bridge, making the destination a multi-gate, multi-day resort. The new park will be one-third larger than the existing park, for a size of two million square feet. It will feature nine themed zones, including IP from partners Nickelodeon, Mattel, and Ubisoft, among others. From the park's press release:
IMG Worlds of Legends, situated adjacent to IMG Worlds of Adventure, will feature futuristic interactive rollercoasters, state-of-the-art rides, breath-taking water-based attractions, and spectacular live entertainment. With its temperature-controlled environment and retractable roof, guests are offered the choice of enjoying the thrilling rides safely protected from the desert heat in summer or basking in the sun on the sky-high coasters in winter as IMG Worlds of Legends is open 365 days a year, offering the best of both worlds.
The Legend begins! Introducing 9 new worlds for the entire family, IMG Worlds of Legends! pic.twitter.com/pNUIXjd43i
— IMGworlds (@IMGworlds) December 6, 2016
IMG Worlds is name-checking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Assassin’s Creed, Raving Rabbids, Power Rangers, Pokemon, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Bob the Builder, and Thomas & Friends as IP for the park's attractions, though it has yet to match any individual IP with specific experiences in the new park.
IMG Worlds also did not yet reveal a planned opening date for the second gate, though officials are eager to open in time to capitalize on an expected surge of visitors to the emirate from the Expo 2020 world's fair planned for Dubai. The emirate has a goal of attracting 20 million visitors to Dubai by that year. (For a couple of comparisons, Dubai welcomed 14 million visitors last year, while Orlando welcomed 66 million in 2015.)
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are working to develop a critical mass of themed entertainment destinations in an effort to make the United Arab Emirates an even more popular tourist destination for visitors from the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. In addition to the existing IMG Worlds of Adventure in Dubai and Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Parks and Resort is opening three theme parks this year: Legoland Dubai, Bollywood Parks, and Motiongate Dubai. That resort has plans to open the region's first Six Flags park in a phase two by 2019. In Abu Dhabi, a Warner Bros. theme park is in development for a 2018 debut on Yas Island, home to the UAE's annual Formula 1 race.
From the opening of IMG Worlds of Adventure:
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First, the parks have no connection at all with the culture of land. Anything about Dubai or the Muslim culture? Not a thing. Disney handled it better with its Shanghai Park.
Second, it is disconnected with what the Dubai guests or tourists might actually want to see. They are all mainstream American pop culture IPs that even I would hate to visit in one hyped up amusement park. It's for 2 year olds on steroids.
I don't think it is wrong to publicize those ugly truths. Nor do I think it's wrong to say that their country needs to change.
In any case, America commits so many human rights abuses domestically and internationally, that it is beyond galling that any American could feel justifiably sanctimonious in calling out any other country. The leadership of the UAE is not perfect but they are more enlightened and tolerant than that of the incoming US administration. Americans really need to get off their high horse.
So how is ithe UAE more enlightened than the incoming Trump Administration?
If you define tolerant as not killing you, then why weren't you afraid of Obama who gave himself the right to kill anyone including US citizens? Maybe you're afraid the presidential powers Obama accumulated for himself will be used by Trump. Then it would be wrong.
I do think anyone should be concerned about traveling to Middle Eastern countries for getting entangled with the law is just nasty business. One guy was arrested for merely taking a picture in Saudi Arabia. Spent a long time in jail until deported.
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Admittedly, the parks are only part of the bigger picture in the UAE, cause more tourists bring more money in to hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and markets: all if which benefits the Emirates who invest in these projects. These parks are part of the bigger picture for the UAE, who are trying to establish themselves as a tourism and business centre for when the oil runs out. It's a really nice place to visit if you have the chance.