The View From...
The UAE is set to play a pivotal role in the global billion dollar theme park and amusement industry, according to Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, chairman, International Expo Consults, organiser of the DEAL 2017 show…
A big DEAL H
ighly innovative and creative theme park concepts in the UAE will be one of the key factors that will attract and drive millions of
tourists and local residents to these entertainment destinations.
The 1.5 million square foot IMG Worlds of Adventure theme park (pictured below) is set to open its doors in Dubailand this summer, and the three new theme parks namely Legoland, Motiongate and Bollywood Parks in Jebel Ali are all set to commence operations by this October. In addition, Six Flags Dubai is also scheduled to open in Jebel Ali by late 2017.
A decade ago the entertainment landscape was totally
different. However, there has been a paradigm shift and we have witnessed a giant leap within the theme park and amusement industry marketplace.We are certainly setting an example for the others to follow. As a theme park industry exhibition organiser for over two decades, we have seen the industry grow in stages. However, the last five years have seen an exponential growth and it will continue to keep up the momentum in the coming years. Internationally recognised events such as the Dubai Expo 2020 and FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 will further boost the tourism sector in the region. This growth, correlated to the rise of theme parks and retail visits, will renew the enthusiasm in the amusement and theme park industry in the region. Theme parks in the UAE have the potential to see over 18 million visits by 2021 as per reports. UAE is well prepared to be crowned as a fun destination in the MENA region with commercial establishments and state-of-the-art-infrastructure. The country has metamorphosed itself into a truly global hub
for tourism over the years, with visitors not only from the MENA region but worldwide. Tourists are attracted to the country’s state-of-the-art retail and hospitality sector. Entertainment and leisure projects also within the GCC
have boosted the confidence of the amusement and leisure industry manifold. Foraying into the 23rd edition, DEAL 2017 expects to witness an even larger gathering of key players and visitors in the amusement industry from Middle East, Africa, US, Mediterranean and Asian countries. DEAL has shaped the region’s entertainment industry
for the last 22 years and it has brought together great minds and their world class innovations all under one umbrella.
“The residents and tourists are also increasingly focusing on family entertainment centres (FEC) and other indoor attraction concepts that are blended well within a retail establishment. The family entertainment zone operators are constantly looking at attracting more visitors and repeat customers through these FECs. Therefore, innovation is important and that is the primary aspect that we address through our DEAL show. The exhibitors from across the globe bring in the latest concepts from across the globe year-on-year and this further helps the FEC operator to keep up with the industry’s demands and remain profitable,” adds Sharif Rahman, CEO, IEC. Since its inception in 1995,DEAL has developed into an
unparalleled platform that gathers exhibitors, buyers, and professionals from the international amusement and entertainment industry. Held annually at the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre, DEAL is the region’s most anticipated and leading attraction for global and local stakeholders in the amusement and entertainment industries
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www.globalamusementsandplay.com
March 2017
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