
As Dubai gears up to open new theme parks, the project's operator predicts that the launch will encourage the development of more hotels and retail outlets in the Jebel Ali area after their scheduled opening in October next year.
Vinit Shah, Dubai Parks and Resorts’ chief destination management officer, drew a comparison with Orlando, Florida. “We are pulling the city to one end, and as we have seen in Orlando, the land near the periphery of the theme parks will benefit with new hotels, residential areas and retail,” he said.
The overall construction of the 25 million-square-foot park is about 17% complete, including the underground and facilities work, the company said. Completion rates vary for individual segments, such as the engineering and rides works, which are 40% finished.
“We are confident of meeting the deadline as vast areas such as parking and landscaping will not be done until towards the end,” Mr Shah said.
In the completed project, there will be parking space for 8,845 cars. By comparison, The Dubai Mall has parking capacity for about 14,000 cars, but Dubai Parks and Resorts executives said their site had space for more parking.