Eagle Hills Diyar, developer of the urban waterfront project Marassi Al Bahrain, has signed up with Dubai's Emaar Entertainment to bring a bumper family entertainment centre to its Marassi Galleria shopping and lifestyle destination in Bahrain.

The 13,200-sq-m centre marks the first major leisure and entertainment (L&E) attraction by Emaar Entertainment in Bahrain, and is set to become the largest entertainment element of any mall in the country.

Emaar Entertainment is the premium provider of L&E experiences, with its portfolio including KidZania Dubai, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Dubai Ice Rink and Reel Cinemas in Dubai.
 
The Underwater Zoo alone covers an area of 2,400 sq m and will be the first such aquatic journey in Bahrain. Another exciting first in the park will be an eco-friendly mountain climb, situated on the rooftop of Marassi Galleria, with natural sun rays and jungle atmosphere, plus a nature-themed dining area, said a statement.

On the mega project, Dr Maher Al Shaer, the managing director of Eagle Hills Diyar, said: "The family entertainment centre we are planning at Marassi Galleria will truly be a mind-blowing experience for visitors of all ages. This is unlike anything that can currently be found in Bahrain; and we are proud to have Emaar Entertainment give us a venue on par with the quality of the rest of the Marassi Al Bahrain destination."

"Virtual reality, a luxury cinema, extreme free-slide, nature climb, a kids play zone, an aquarium, zip-wiring, trampolining, a Digital Family Entertainment Center; the list goes on – even the most active visitor will be spoilt for choice," remarked Dr Al Shaer.

"We wanted Marassi Galleria to go one step further than other lifestyle destinations in the kingdom - which offer a good quality of standard family entertainment concepts - and Emaar Entertainment has the proven track record in creating extraordinary experiences," he added.

Maitha Al Dossari, the chief executive of Emaar Entertainment, said: "Over the years, our company has defined its credentials as a leading provider of premium leisure and entertainment experiences that appeal to visitors from across the world. Our innovative approach to creating thoughtfully planned leisure destinations and our attention to details and service have earned us industry accolades."

"The agreement with Eagle Hills, which aims to bring world-class leisure attractions to Marassi Galleria, marks our first international expansion in the GCC, and underlines our competencies in creating premium entertainment destinations that add economic value," stated Al Dossari.

"Marassi Al Bahrain is a world-class destination that redefines urban living and through our partnership, our goal is to offer visitors and residents exceptional lifestyle choices for all members of the family," she added.

The 200,000-sq-m Marassi Galleria will be linked to two luxury hotels and serviced residences projects – The Address Marassi Al Bahrain and The Address Residences Marassi Al Bahrain operated by The Address Hotels + Resorts, and Vida Marassi Al Bahrain and Vida Residences Marassi Al Bahrain by Vida Hotels and Resorts.

The two hotel brands by Emaar Hospitality Group offer distinctive lifestyle experiences. Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure subsidiary of Emaar Properties, has a development pipeline of 29 hotel projects in the UAE and in key international markets including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Maldives.

Spanning 875,000 sq m, Marassi Al Bahrain is being constructed on the northern shores of the masterplanned ‘new city’ of Diyar Al Muharraq, forming a key luxury component of Bahrain’s largest private urban project.-TradeArabia News Service