Dubai Parks and Resorts is the Middle East’s largest integrated leisure and theme park destination located on Sheikh Zayed road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Spread over 25 million square feet, it features more than 100 rides and attractions, and consists of three theme parks: Motiongate Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai and Legoland Dubai, and one water park: Legoland Water Park. It also encompasses Riverland Dubai, a themed retail and dining destination, as well as the Polynesian-themed family resort, Lapita Hotel Dubai. The official opening took place on 18 December 2016. Six Flags Dubai was going to the fourth theme park addition to Dubai Parks and Resorts and was set to open its doors in late 2019 with an additional 27 rides and attractions, and growing the destination to cover 30.6 million square feet. However, it was scrapped the same year. In 2018, the company announced it had made a loss of $302 million in 2017.
Development history
The Dubai Parks and Resorts project was announced in 2012 and construction started in 2014. In 2014, the Company signed agreements with DreamWorks Animation, Columbia Pictures, Merlin Entertainments and various Bollywood studies to bring beloved Hollywood and Bollywood characters to its theme parks. In 2015, Dubai Parks and Resorts signed an agreement with Lionsgate, for a fifth themed zone in Motiongate Dubai. In 2016, the Company announced the commencement of construction for Six Flags Dubai, the fourth theme park to be added to the Dubai Parks and Resorts destination. In 2016 Dubai Parks and Resorts released its official theme song, All the Wonders of the Universe, created by Academy Award winner Alan Menken. In 31 October 2016, Dubai Parks and Resorts opened the doors to Legoland Dubai and Riverland Dubai. This followed by the opening of Bollywood Parks Dubai on 17 November 2016 and Motiongate Dubai on 16 December 2016. The official inauguration was held on 18 December 2016, an event that was broadcast live across the globe. In 2017, the remaining elements of Dubai Parks and Resorts launched when both the Legoland Water Park and the Lapita Hotel opened to paying guests on 2 January. Later in the year, DXB Entertainments announced a 60:40 partnership with Merlin Entertainments to bring a 250 room Lego themed hotel to the Dubai Parks and Resorts destination.
