The highly anticipated Real Madrid World in Dubai Parks and Resorts is now open.
It is the world's first Real Madrid-themed amusement park and it's spread across three zones: Champions Avenue, Celebration Plaza and Stars Avenue. It also offers more than 40 themed rides, attractions and experiences, including the region’s first wooden rollercoaster, the world's tallest amusement ride, a Real Madrid trophies arena, restaurants and retail stores, where visitors can snap up personalised merchandise.
The park, which was created in partnership with the club, aims to bring fans closer to its players and history thanks to experiences such as the White Hearts walkthrough. It takes visitors through the past, present and future of the club with interactive experiences.
Additionally, Real Madrid Foundation Academy UAE hopes to train future generations of players.
The Bernabeu experience goes behind the scenes in the players' dressing room and takes fans to the centre spot of the stadium's famed pitch. It also reveals the secret sanctuary that is home to the 14 European Cups – plus the 11 Basketball European Cups – deep within the stadium itself.
For those eager to finesse their game or penalties, La Fabrica training pitch allows guests of all ages to enjoy a kickabout. There are smaller balls for young visitors.
Hala Madrid is a wooden rollercoaster whisking visitors through the emotional highs and lows of Real Madrid's European Cup journey. Nearby is the Stars Flyer, a 140-metre-tall ride, making it the highest in the world, while The Wave – La Ola is a family ride that embraces the passion of loyal fans at the stadium.
Factory of Dreams, meanwhile, is a virtual simulator that promises to take guests on a “journey full of surprises”, while the Hands Up! drop tower will raise guests to giddy heights, before plunging them back to earth. Themed for the Victory Cup, this allows visitors to help raise the trophy together with the team.
True fans can head to the training camps and programmes, where anyone aged six and above can learn new skills and the art of teamwork. A warm-up session is followed by basic trick shots and finished with a short team game, where players can show off their skills.
The park also offers 15 daily shows, from interactive freestyle football to cast-led performances.
Real Madrid merchandise on sale includes club shirts that can be personalised, while the park is scattered with numerous restaurants and food carts, with many offering dishes with a Spanish twist.
Fernando Eiroa, chief executive at Dubai Holding Entertainment, said: “The park celebrates the world’s love for sports and theme parks, presenting an adventure that has never been done or seen before. Real Madrid World will showcase the winning spirit of Real Madrid, embodying the deep passion that brings the club to life.”
Sunday to Thursday, noon to 9pm; Friday and Saturday, noon to 10pm. Day passes cost Dh295 and are available at www.dubaiparksandresorts.com or the entrance
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raha%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kuwait%2FSaudi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tech%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2414%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Soor%20Capital%2C%20eWTP%20Arabia%20Capital%2C%20Aujan%20Enterprises%2C%20Nox%20Management%2C%20Cedar%20Mundi%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20166%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
Race card
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
