A new home for the Avengers, Spider-Man and the X-Men is springing up on the outskirts of Dubai as the developer this week completed the structural columns of what is set to become one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world.
Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari (IMG) Group said that it had completed the giant dome shaped steel roof skeleton for IMG Worlds of Adventure, a 1.5 million square foot theme park featuring rides based around Marvel comic heroes and Cartoon Network characters located in Dubailand.
The erection of the so-called space frame marks a key stage in the construction of the delayed theme park, which is now scheduled to open early next year. IMG also added that the theme park’s rides were being manufactured off site and shipments of completed rides were expected to arrive in the later part of this year.
“With the structural columns in place, we have entered a new phase of development. IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the most anticipated developments in the region offering a number of world firsts which will position Dubai and the UAE on the global map as a themed entertainment capital,” said an IMG Group spokesman.
The park is the latest venture for IMG Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate with businesses including property development, leisure facility development, hospitality, automobiles, international brand representation and franchising, food storage, luxury boat distribution, design, manufacturing and transport.
The park, which the company describes as the “largest temperature-controlled indoor entertainment destination in the world” will have a capacity to accommodate 20,000 people and is hoping to attract more than 10,000 visitors per day.
It will comprise four zones. One inspired by Marvel comic-book heroes, a Cartoon Network zone, a Lost Valley dinosaur attraction and entertainment zone, plus a 12-screen cinema and eating and shopping areas.
The project on Mohammed bin Zayed Road, will be located in the City of Arabia district forming part of Dubai Properties Group’s sprawling Dubailand scheme on the edge of the city.
Rides will include an electromagnetic super fast roller-coaster which travels outside the building and includes more twists and turns than the one in Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World.
A so-called 5-D cinema will add effects such as smell, wind and motion to the 3-D Imax-style experience.
IMG declined to disclose the cost of building the theme park but announced last year it had raised financing from Al Hilal Bank and Mashreq to fund the project.
IMG also intends to include conference facilities to attract corporate events to the park.
The news comes as a boost for the project which, when known as the City of Arabia scheme, was put on hold for years. It had originally been due to open in 2011 and was due to include the world’s largest shopping mall and a dinosaur theme park.
lbarnard@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
57%20Seconds
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rusty%20Cundieff%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJosh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Morgan%20Freeman%2C%20Greg%20Germann%2C%20Lovie%20Simone%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
