MIDDLE EAST
Soft opening for Funfair Co’s Qatar venue
MICHEL Koborsi’s dream to bring to the small Arab emirate of Qatar an indoor theme park that would rival anything else in the highly- competitive entertainment region has come to fruition. The venue is the Villagio Mall, a high-class
shopping complex in Doha, Qatar’s capital, and the park has been named Gondolania. Koborsi, CEO of The Funfair Company, which operates amusements at the location and elsewhere in the city, oversaw a soft opening in November, with an official launch yet to be announced. The location is one of the most ambitious
The Villagio Mall, Doha
Fastline continues to grow Middle East presence
WHILE many companies have been forced to scale back their presence in the Middle East as a result of the global economic downturn, Fastline Group continues to enjoy success in the region. The company, based in Surrey, UK, specialises in systems for the complete management of indoor and outdoor racing circuit centres, including timing and lap scoring, event and race management, database membership, ticket sales and scoreboard display systems. Simon Heap, marketing director of Fastline Group, said that although many amusement
in the Middle East, and ranks with anything currently offered by the big name operators in
projects have been stalled over recent months, the group has been experiencing “quite a bit of success” in the Middle East, providing a number of venues with go-karting equipment.
The company currently has a number of
installations in the Middle East, including Adhari Park, Gulf Speed 1 and Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain; Erbil Speed Centre, Iraq; Jordan Speed Centre, Jordan; and Oman Auto Association, Oman. “We also have several turnkey projects in development phase in Bahrain, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Iran,” Heap said. “In the last year there has also been a considerable interest from the smaller Middle Eastern countries such as Syria.”
Observation deck closes at Burj Khalifa
THE 124th-floor observation deck at Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, has been temporarily closed - just one month after opening - due to technical issues surrounding the elevator that transports tourists to the platform. According to Fahad Al Zarouni, deputy
director of operations at Dubai’s Centre for Ambulance Services, emergency services were sent to the tower on February 6 to treat 12 people who had been stranded in a stalled elevator, and “dozens” of others who had been trapped on the observation deck. No one was injured. The skyscraper, formerly known as Burj
Dubai, officially opened in Dubai on January 4. In addition to the observation deck, the complex includes a number of attractions, including the world’s largest water fountain.
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Wow Rak resort opening on track
DESPITE the recent downturn suffered by certain key Middle Eastern financial and property markets, Polo Rak Amusement is preparing to open the first phase of Wow Rak family resort. The Ras al-Khaimah, UAE-based group said
its Iceland waterpark will open in mid-April. It will be the largest such venue in the GCC area, covering more than 20 acres with a range of zones, including a waterfall, over 35 slides, a children’s play area and several eateries. Iceland waterpark represents the first phase of
the Wow Rak family destination, a 120-acre project that will also feature an 85-unit shopping mall with 85 kiosks (scheduled to open in 2011), a 180-room hotel (2011) and a theme park (2012). The project is the result of a joint-venture between Polo Group, RAKIA and RAK properties.
the region. Gondolania is so named because Villagio is built on a Venetian theme, with canals upon which visitors can ride in gondolas. The Funfair Company operates those rides
and put together the two-year development project which was to culminate in the Middle East’s largest indoor theme park. The location boasts a wealth of major park
rides, including a roller coaster, big wheel, huge family entertainment centre and many other attractions in a 20,000sq m space connected to the main mall. It also includes an Imax theatre, flume ride, Panorama ride, Mad House, dark ride, carousel, a softplay area, sporting activities and several restaurants and eateries.
NEWS
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