Dubai: The extension of the Dubai Metro network services to the in-development Dubai Parks and Resorts (DPR) destination is still being worked on, according to a top official with the theme park company. The project is fully on track for an October 2016 opening date, with work on all three of the park’s attractions progressing apace, he added.
The developer is forecasting 5.2 million visitors a year initially, with each visitor expected to spend an average of seven hours at each theme park. This translates into 6.7 million “visitations”, which is when a visitor could use his visit to take in more than one of the parks. As per current estimates, the destination’s facilities can “handle double the number of the expected “visitations” and can always extend working hours during public holidays and special occasions such as during Eid,” the official said.
“Obviously, the Metro related will be decided by RTA in due course – on our part we are advancing on creating the bridge network (off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway) for the incoming and outgoing visitor flows,” said Raed Al Nuaimi. “As important as the individual attractions within, we are fast-tracking the creation of the road access from either side, given that the destination is more or less equidistant from the Dubai and Abu Dhabi city centres.”
The location will be built to absorb as many as 8,000 vehicles at peak usage.
As part of the 25 million square feet Phase 1 development, the build-up of the structures housing the Dreamworks’ attractions as well ‘Raj Mahal’, the ultimate Bollywood inspired dream ride, are already at an advanced stage. These two have the longest “lead-time” of the various concepts that will make up the destination.
“It will be for the first time in the theme park industry that three “gates” are opening simultaneously at a single destination,” said Al Nuaimi. “There may have been bigger developments that cater to a larger visitor base… but they were essentially built around a single unified theme.”
Once the parks open and visitor numbers fall in line with projections, DPR will take the decision on the timing to add future attractions. “At each of the three parks, we have the land available to double in size,” the CEO said. “In the industry, a “minor” attraction usually gets tagged on every third year and a “major” new addition takes place by the fifth year.”
The 503-key ‘Lapita’ hotel will also open in October next year, meeting the need of those visitors who plan to stay on for a more leisurely taking in of the various concepts. (The CEO declined to say whether there are plans to create additional hotel room capacity at the location.) The water element – a 1 kilometre long stretch embodied in the ‘Riverland’ leisure cluster – will be one of the final tasks of the project. The concept for the location, which will essentially feature F&B offerings, is being developed inhouse. Meanwhile, “one-on-one” contacts have been made with potential tenants who will take up the 54 outlets falling on Riverland.
