A new home for the Avengers, Spider-Man and the X-Men is springing up on the outskirts of Dubai as the developer this week completed the structural columns of what is set to become one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world.
Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari (IMG) Group said that it had completed the giant dome shaped steel roof skeleton for IMG Worlds of Adventure, a 1.5 million square foot theme park featuring rides based around Marvel comic heroes and Cartoon Network characters located in Dubailand.
The erection of the so-called space frame marks a key stage in the construction of the delayed theme park, which is now scheduled to open early next year. IMG also added that the theme park’s rides were being manufactured off site and shipments of completed rides were expected to arrive in the later part of this year.
“With the structural columns in place, we have entered a new phase of development. IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the most anticipated developments in the region offering a number of world firsts which will position Dubai and the UAE on the global map as a themed entertainment capital,” said an IMG Group spokesman.
The park is the latest venture for IMG Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate with businesses including property development, leisure facility development, hospitality, automobiles, international brand representation and franchising, food storage, luxury boat distribution, design, manufacturing and transport.
The park, which the company describes as the “largest temperature-controlled indoor entertainment destination in the world” will have a capacity to accommodate 20,000 people and is hoping to attract more than 10,000 visitors per day.
It will comprise four zones. One inspired by Marvel comic-book heroes, a Cartoon Network zone, a Lost Valley dinosaur attraction and entertainment zone, plus a 12-screen cinema and eating and shopping areas.
The project on Mohammed bin Zayed Road, will be located in the City of Arabia district forming part of Dubai Properties Group’s sprawling Dubailand scheme on the edge of the city.
Rides will include an electromagnetic super fast roller-coaster which travels outside the building and includes more twists and turns than the one in Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World.
A so-called 5-D cinema will add effects such as smell, wind and motion to the 3-D Imax-style experience.
IMG declined to disclose the cost of building the theme park but announced last year it had raised financing from Al Hilal Bank and Mashreq to fund the project.
IMG also intends to include conference facilities to attract corporate events to the park.
The news comes as a boost for the project which, when known as the City of Arabia scheme, was put on hold for years. It had originally been due to open in 2011 and was due to include the world’s largest shopping mall and a dinosaur theme park.
