Dubai - The Next Orlando?

[JB2K]

(MODS: I had trouble deciding which forum suits this questions best -- you can decide...)

All,

There have been some rumblings in the news, lately that Dubai (UAE) is poised to become the "next" Orlando.

So far, to their credit, they already have a world-class airline (Emirates) and a rapidly-expanding, highly-efficient international airport (Dubai International Airport), that puts anything we have in the USA to shame.

Now, some familiar friends want a piece of the Middle Eastern action...

Over the past few weeks, Anheuser-Busch, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros. have all announced plans for large, Orlando-style theme parks. Most of these parks will be built though joint ventures, as the Walt Disney Comapny has already done in Japan and Hong Kong.

More at http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080419/hollywood_middle_east.html

That said, what are your thoughts on these ventures? As Dubai would be pretty far-flung in distance/price for most North Americans, I wouldn't exprect too many of us to plan a trip, there.

But what about those people living in Europe and points east -- given rising fuel costs, if package tours were offered to Dubai, would these "next gen" parks be enough to keep you away from Orlando?

And the even bigger question - would the WDC, not wanting to be trumped by it's main park competiton, eventually want to get in on this???? So far, the WDC is officially taking a "let's wait and see what happens" approach to Dubai.

Keep in mind Dubai is a "moderate" country as compared to much of the Middle East you hear-about in the news (meaning some adult beverages are served, foreign women are not looked-down upon as second-class citizens, and English is widely-used).

Your turn...

 

[JB2K]

Bump!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I am going to move this to the Community Board. It is really more of a general discussion topic and you may get more responses over there.

 

[Lintasare]

I am guessing they are going for more the European and the Asian markets with this. Most people in the US I don't think could afford a vacation over there especially when we have the same theme parks here.

 

[kylara]

Actually it doesn't surprise me that something like this is planned for Dubai. I have a coworker who has traveled to Dubai and has friends there and he states that it is very cosmopolitan. Even though it is in the middle east, they have many visitor and it seems a large European population that lives there.

I agree that is might not be a big vacation destination for people in the US, but it does seem to be a popular tourist destination for many in Europe.

 

[kieras nana]

dubai has become quite popular,in the last couple of years,but at the minute,it just seems like one big building site.
i for one,would never choose it over florida,because for me florida,has so much to offer.you can have so many holidays rolled into one.
for me it's a winner!

 

[vegasnative]

My aunt & uncle live about 40-minutes outside of Dubai in a place called Abu Dabi. They say it is gorgeous there and the locals are very friendly, and I have seen it in many travel mag pictures. It sure does look breathtaking. However, it is extremely expensive,not just to live but also for a vacation destination. I would LOVE to visit the UAE, especially Dubai in particular, but that would be truely a once in a lifetime trip for us. The theme parks are not what would make me want to go. Perhaps it would make others in different parts of the world go though.

 

[Beth76]

Good for them. They already have a world class water park and an indoor ski slope. I would really like to travel to Dubai sometime.

ETA: I agree with the above poster. I certainly wouldn't travel to Dubai and go to the theme parks.

 

[Planogirl]

Warner Brothers is planning a themepark? I hadn't heard about them and that would certainly be different.

I think that, like WDC, I will take a wait and see attitude. If the dollar would someday strengthen then who knows?

 

[HOGFAN]

Dont go in the summer. I just watched a show this morning about the building of the ski slope. It was built in July and the temp was in the 120s.

 

[Imzadi]

However, it is extremely expensive,not just to live but also for a vacation destination.

I agree. Everything i've heard about Dubai is that it's a very expensive, elitist class type of place. They aren't interested in the "common folk" type of entertainment. I think that's why Disney is holding off.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I'll pass....

 

[mgilmer]

Maybe the BTGs will go there instead.

 

[basas]

Are these theme parks a part of the Dubailand project? It is massive- twice the size of WDW!

They are building a lot of interesting things in Dubai (man-made islands, super-tall buildings (including the World’s tallest), a massive new airport, a massive new shopping mall), but to be honest I have no real desire to visit.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I agree. Everything i've heard about Dubai is that it's a very expensive, elitist class type of place. They aren't interested in the "common folk" type of entertainment. I think that's why Disney is holding off.

ITA - everything I have seen makes it look like a playground for the very rich.


from what I read, they are building man made islands in the shapes of the continents - and selling them to the ultra elite.....

 

[basas]

ITA - everything I have seen makes it look like a playground for the very rich.


from what I read, they are building man made islands in the shapes of the continents - and selling them to the ultra elite.....

Yes, they have one development called "The World": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_(archipelago)

and they also have "Palm Islands" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Islands

 

[Lintasare]

ITA - everything I have seen makes it look like a playground for the very rich.


from what I read, they are building man made islands in the shapes of the continents - and selling them to the ultra elite.....

Yep, it's called The World. If you look on Google Maps you can find them. Gotta zoom in real close to see them though.

And yes all of the new stuff is mean to cater to the ultra elite which is fine...I will take WDW over Dubai any day.

 

[JB2K]

My aunt & uncle live about 40-minutes outside of Dubai in a place called Abu Dabi.

Abu Dhabi is very close to the Dubai emirate.

Again, some folks missed my point -- I would expect very few people from North America (U.S./Canada) to ever venture there because of time, distance, and the ever-weakening U.S. dollar.

My question was primarily directed at those Europeans who have the time/travel/currency situation working for them.

As for the poster who mentioned WDC and the American dollar, there would be little risk to WDC (and the others mentioned in my original post), as park operations would not be owned by Disney, but rather by a licensee (of which WDC has much experience in doing).

 

[disney1990]

I think I can skip going to Dubai. I would rather go to Disney World or Disneyland.