Creative concepts to drive millions of guests to UAE theme parks

Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of International Expo Consults, organisers of the annual Dubai Entertainment Amusement & Leisure (DEAL) show expects that the United Arab Emirates will play a pivotal role in the global billion dollar theme park and amusement industry.

With the UAE set to open a spectrum of theme parks and entertainment zones, Falaknaz sees that highly innovative and creative theme park concepts will be one of the key factors that will attract and drive millions of tourists and local residents to these destinations.

Set to open in the coming months, Dubailand’s 140,000 metre² IMG Worlds of Adventure theme and three new theme parks - Legoland, Motiongate and Bollywood Parks - in Jebel Ali will be joined by, Six Flags Dubai as of late 2017.

Falaknaz explained “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 themepark and amusement industry marketplace.

“We are certainly setting an example for the others to follow. As a themepark 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.”

Falaknaz expects that internationally recognised events such as the Dubai Expo 2020 and FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 will further boost the tourism in the region. This growth, correlated to the rise of theme parks and retail visits, will renew the enthusiasm in the amusement and themepark industry in the region.

As a result, it has been predicted that the UAE’s theme parks have the potential to welcome over 18 million visits by 2021.

Falaknaz adds “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 tourismover 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 wider Gulf Cooperation Council region have also boosted the confidence of the amusement and leisure industry.

Looking forward to its 23rd edition in 2017, DEAL expects to witness an even larger gathering of key players and visitors in the amusement industry from Middle East, Africa, US, Europe 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.

Falaknaz concludes “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.

International Expo Consults Chief Executive Sharif Rahman concludes “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.”

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 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.  

Click here to view details on the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure (DEAL) Show in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar. 

Images: The soon-to-open IMG Worlds of Adventure (top) and Abdul Rahman Falaknaz (below).

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