UAE-based Miral has joined hands with leading theme park and entertainment company SeaWorld Entertainment to develop a first-of-its-kind marine life themed park on Yas Island which will boast of mega attractions and a world-class aquarium besides the country's first dedicated marine life research, rescue, rehabilitation and return centre.

This next generation theme park, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, will also feature world-class facilities and resources for the care and conservation of local marine life.

Set to open by 2022, the leisure project will complement Miral’s Yas Island destination portfolio of four themed parks, which includes Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and the recently announced Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and Clymb which is set to open in 2018.

Yas Island also offers a wide range of sporting and entertainment experiences that include Yas Marina Circuit, seven hotels, year round calendar of events, a live performance and concert arena, an 18-hole championship golf course, a marina, a beach and the increasingly popular shopping destination, Yas Mall, said a statement from Miral, which is responsible for the development and promotion of Yas Island.   

Miral is Abu Dhabi’s creator of destinations, uniting people and places through unique, immersive and exciting experiences. Its assets encompass entertainment, hospitality, leisure, sport, dining, retail and real estate destinations.

The Abu Dhabi firm said it will be the first new SeaWorld without orcas, and will integrate up-close animal experiences bringing the latest technology in visitor engagement, it stated.

The partnership brings together Miral’s expertise in developing Yas Island’s portfolio of destinations with SeaWorld’s 50-plus years of theme park, veterinary medicine, marine science and zoological practice and experience, said the statement.

Announcing the new venture, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the chairman of Miral, said: "Abu Dhabi is becoming a first choice destination for regional and global travelers by combining culture, heritage and unique leisure experiences into one compelling proposition. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi further strengthens Yas Island’s position as a global tourism destination."

"This announcement reflects the emirate’s ambition to create a sustainable, diversified economy, with tourism as one of its core pillars. Abu Dhabi continues to build sustainable partnerships that deliver on its strategic 2030 Vision, transforming and pioneering new destinations," he noted.

Joel Manby, the president and chief executive officer of SeaWorld, said: "We are excited to announce our first international expansion and our partnership with Miral as we design a next generation SeaWorld that engages, educates and inspires, a blueprint brought to life in Abu Dhabi."

"This new park, combined with a dedicated research, rescue, rehabilitation and return facility focused on marine life care and conservation, continues SeaWorld’s legacy of marine life rescue that spans more than 50 years," remarked
Manby.

"This project presents an opportunity for collaboration and greater understanding of how species have adapted to the region’s unique marine environment, and to inspire the next generation of visitors, conservationists and animal care experts," he added.

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center on Yas Island, will be the first of its kind in the country, providing a state-of-the-art environment for local and global researchers, scientists and marine conservationists to assist them to better understand and learn from the region’s marine life habitats and conditions.

Planned to open ahead of the marine life themed park, the facility will provide an important resource for UAE nationals and residents looking to develop or enhance expertise in marine life sciences and will serve as a hub for collaboration with local and international environmental organizations and projects.

Miral CEO Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi dubbed SeaWorld Abu Dhabi as a unique project for the region which complements its portfolio of attractions and enriches Yas Island as the most exciting destination for visitors.

"As Abu Dhabi’s developer of unique and exciting destinations, the opportunity to design a next generation marine life themed park in partnership with SeaWorld is bold and ambitious. Miral will continue to develop and create leading destinations on Yas Island that offer unique, immersive and exciting experiences for everyone," he remarked.
 
The addition of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi expands Miral’s destination portfolio on Yas Island, which is set to double visitor numbers to 48 million by 2022, stated Al Zaabi.

The growth plans are part of Abu Dhabi’s vision to establish the emirate as a global tourism hub with unique attractions and world-class tourism infrastructure, he added.-TradeArabia News Service