Theme parks are pegged to rake in more than Dh5 billion ($1.36 billion) to Dubai’s economy by 2020, said the organisers of an upcoming entertainment and leisure show in Dubai, UAE.

The Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure Show (DEAL) 2016 is scheduled to be held between April 19 and 21 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

International Expo Consults (IEC), organisers of DEAL 2016 stated that theme parks in the UAE and GCC region have an edge over its counterparts across the globe. The country’s theme parks are scaling the growth trajectory as it has adopted the latest technology in developing these theme parks and are far more innovative and creative according to Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, chairman of IEC.

Lennard Otto, general manager, IMG Worlds of Adventure said: “Looking at Dubai, the opportunity is clear, one third of the world’s population is within four hours flying time, and two thirds within eight hours. The theme park industry is the next piece of the puzzle for delivering an all-round experience for residents and tourists alike. We are the first movers in this space, pioneering the indoor entertainment concept, which allows us to make the most of an untapped market.”

“Recent developments in the region with regard to entertainment and leisure are very encouraging,” said Falaknaz.

“Entertainment and leisure projects within the UAE and across GCC have boosted the confidence of the amusement and leisure industry manifold. The growth of projects has spurred towards the organising of events such as DEAL within this region and bringing the industry experts and stakeholders together. DEAL 2016 is definitely set to don the mantle of the entertainment launch pad for amusement operators in the Middle East,” he added.

On the other hand GCC is set to witness a boom in tourism as new projects and developments are being planned and in the execution phase to usher in more tourists than ever before. One of the examples includes Saudi Arabia’s much talked about project – KidzMondo Theme Park. The first branch is anticipated to begin operations in Riyadh in the first quarter of 2017 before spreading out to other major cities of the Kingdom. Launching the KidzMondo cities in Saudi Arabia entails a huge investment of $133 million.

Another $120 million project, Majarat Oman, to be built over an area of 25,000 sq m at Al Sawadi Beach Resort, will cater for 2,500 to 3,000 visitors a day when it gets operational.

“Indoor theme parks minimize seasonality which allows the business to operate at its maximum levels throughout the year. This is largely because we can control that crucial factor which outdoor sites can’t, which is the climate. If you look at the major groupings of outdoor theme parks they tend to be located in locations that offer a temperate that is moderate – this is why the indoor park has an edge in this region,” added Lennard.

“Several mega projects in the GCC region are in various phases of implementation and executions as various destinations are being aptly poised as leisure and entertainment destinations ahead of global mega events, particularly the World Expo 2020 in the UAE and the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. DEAL 2016 expo would clearly redefine the landscape of the amusement industry in the GCC region as it is the fulcrum for global stakeholders to launch and revamp the amusement industry,” added Sharif Rahman, CEO, IEC.

Exhibitors at the DEAL 2015 show signed contracts worth over Dh1.2 billion. The show grew by 35 per cent over the previous year, as exhibitors signed contracts for innovative products and projects, amusement rides and other equipment.

The show this year had ushered in more than 300 firms from across 33 countries and attracted 7,189 quality trade visitors apart from 64 new exhibitors. – TradeArabia News Service