Dubailand developer looks to revive Universal Studios and Legoland projects

The backer of the ambitious Dubailand complex has moved to revive the project, although ambitious plans for it to feature seven theme parks are likely to be severely scaled back.

Regional media has reported that Dubai Properties Group (DPG) is in the process of restructuring the project, with the aim of recommencing work by the end of the year. The multibillion dollar development was put on hold in 2008 when the credit crunch struck Dubai's real estate market, causing many to question whether it will go ahead at all.

Instead, the developers plan to focus on opening the proposed Universal Studios Dubai and Legoland Dubai theme parks, alongside residential properties. This would be a significant step back from the original plans, with Dubailand originally envisioned as the largest cluster of theme parks in the world.

Speaking at the recent Arabian Business Forum, DPG Chief Executive Khalid Al Malik stated "Dubailand is currently in the process of evaluating new projects. We are renegotiating the terms of the contracts and the other issue is the size of these projects - so we're reviewing the contracts to make it easier for investors."

Dubailand was intended to be more than twice the size of Walt Disney World and to contain high profile parks including Warner Bros. Movie World, Six Flags Dubailand, Dreamworks Studios Theme Park, and the Formula One-themed F1-X, in addition to the Universal Studios and Legoland parks.

All of these appear to have been dropped, with Formula One Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone stating last year that the half-built F1-X park was "not happening".

Despite plans to open several of Dubailand's proposed theme parks in the period between 2010 and 2012, it currently looks likely that none of the proposed parks will open in that timescale - if at all. F1-X was at the most advanced stage of development prior to the property crash, and many of the other parks are still only at the concept stage.

In addition to the theme parks, Dubailand was originally set to host the MotorCity motor sports complex, residential areas and the world's largest shopping centre.

15th February 2010 - SOFT OPENING FOR SINGAPORE’S UNIVERSAL STUDIOS THEME PARK

18th June 2008 - MERLIN TO OPEN LEGOLAND IN DUBAI