Dubai Parks and Resorts on course for 2016 opening

Dubai Parks and Resorts (DPR) has announced that the Middle East’s largest multi-themed leisure and entertainment destination, now under construction in Jebel Ali, is on schedule to open in October 2016.

The integrated leisure and entertainment destination comprises three separate theme parks – Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Bollywood Parks. Motiongate is a Hollywood movie inspired theme park concept and Legoland is the first Legoland theme park in the Middle, while Bollywood Parks is the first-of-its- kind entertainment destination that will provide Bollywood movie experience to visitors. In addition, Legoland Water Park, the region’s first water park catering to families with children 2-12, will also open at the site.

According to DPR officials, the construction work is scheduled for completion by June 2016, following which the site will be cleared and readied for a soft opening in October 2016.

Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO of DPR, says the Riverland Dubai, the themed retail, dining and entertainment waterfront district, has attracted several new concepts to Dubai such as America’s Famous Dave’s pit barbecue and Mr Greek as well as South Africa’s Galito’s Flame Grilled Chicken.

Riverland Dubai, the 220,000 sqft dining and retail destination spread across a one-kilometre-long waterfront will be the entry point to the DPR theme parks. The water-front restaurants will also offer several food options, including Tortilla (Mexican), Simit Sarayi (Turkish), 800 Degrees Pizza (Italian) and a number of already well-known names such as Irish Village, Big Chefs, Emirati restaurant Milas, Jamba Juice, Fuzziwigs Candy Factory and Starbucks.

“All visitors to DPR will pass through Riverland Dubai. In building this destination, we have been inspired by many different cultures and countries. So, it is important that the brands chosen also represent this and appeal to different nationalities, tastes and requirements of our guests,” says Al Nuaimi. 

Riverland will be both the main entrance to the resort and a connecting point between all three theme parks – Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Legoland Dubai, Legoland Water Park and the Lapita Hotel, a Polynesian-themed hotel.

“All retail design are ready, F&B menus are finalised. With almost 50% of the units leased, we hope to sign-up more leases over the next few weeks. All entertainment scripts are ready and a 250-member troupe of dancers and performers is being recruited for the entertainment shows,” adds Stanford Pinto, chief parks operating officer, DPR.