Just when we thought Dubai couldn’t dazzle us any more, it’s now home to a vast new theme park complex.
Dubai Parks and Resorts opened in the UAE destination this week and it’s the biggest theme park in town – and that’s in a town that specialises in big.
Eventually, it will boast FOUR theme parks at the $3billion site – on Sheikh Zayed Road, opposite Palm Jebel Ali – consisting of Bollywood, Motiongate and Legoland, which features a separate water park for good measure.
It’s Legoland that’s open now with more than 40 Lego-themed rides, shows, experiences and attractions aimed at families with children aged two to 12.
It features an indoor miniland with models ranging from the Burj Khalifa to the Pyramids and Petra.
The adjacent water park is also aimed at the younger audience and will have more than 20 slides and attractions.
It’s planned to open on November 15. Also opening then is the Bollywood park, which celebrates the Indian movie industry and is the first of its kind in the world, with five zones inspired by its blockbusters.
Movie fans will also be eager for the opening of Motiongate on December 16. This park will showcase entertainment from Hollywood studios DreamWorks, Sony Pictures and Lionsgate.
Star attractions are based on the Green Hornet, Shrek , Ghostbusters, the Smurfs, The Hunger Games and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
All that theme park action is sure to build up an appetite so it’s handy that the sites are all connected by Riverland, a themed shopping, dining and bar destination with ’50s USA, Indian and Mediterranean zones.
And since each park is likely to take an entire day to see, there’s also family-friendly on-site hotel Lapita, which is Polynesian-themed, and due to open this month.
Big theme parks come at a price, though, with the cheapest tickets starting from £53 per adult and £46 per child. dubaiparksandresorts.com