A £50 billion theme park that has never seen a single guest was supposed to be like no other.
The 107 sq metre project - set to be twice the size of Walt Disney World Resort - was initially launched in the Middle East in a bid to rival its American counterparts.
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Back in 2003, United Arab Emirates announced its most ambitious project to date by building the best and biggest theme park of all time.
Called Dubailand, the entertainment complex began as 45 'mega projects' and 200 sub projects, which would create six zones (worlds); Attractions and Experience World, Sports and Outdoor World, Eco-Tourism World, Themed Leisure and Vacation World, Retail and Entertainment World, and Downtown.
The Sahara Kingdom theme park was tipped to include physical and virtual reality theme park rides, a gaming zone, an IMAX theater, four hotels and residential accommodations, located in the Attractions & Experience World - set to cover a whopping 4,951,399 sq ft.
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Even DreamWorks announced plans in 2006 to build a theme park within Dubailand.
Unfortunately though, Dubailand has been riddled with issues right from the off.
The global financial crisis in 2008 plagued the park of any progress until 2013.
Updates from that year showed that $55 billion had been raised for the park, despite some of the projects being cancelled.
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For now, the Dubailand name has been associated with an entertainment district in Dubai where some of the planned projects for the Dubailand complex have opened.
In 2016, Legoland Dubai also opened at Dubai Parks and Resorts, 35 km from Dubailand
Without any hiccups, most of Dubailand should have opened by 2025.
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Also set to open in 2025 is Universal's fourth mega theme park.
First announced in 2019, the park is set to have 50 attractions across five themed lands.
What are the five themed worlds at Universal's new megapark?
The mythical themed 'Celestial Park' world is one of the five themed lands on the park.
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"With acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and strolling pathways, Celestial Park puts the 'park' back in 'theme park'," the group said in a statement.
"As soon as guests enter the imaginative world, they’ll embark on a journey of discovery, thrills and excitement as they wander through lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements.
"Here, guests can relax while taking in the sights and sounds around them, board a shooting comet for an exhilarating roller coaster adventure, dine on delectable cuisine, shop exclusive merchandise to commemorate their visit and more."
From there guests can enter 'portals' to the other worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe.
Topics: Theme Park, Travel
Anish Vij