Marvel theme park in Dubai will have ‘edge’ over rivals, says boss

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Marvel theme park in Dubai will have ‘edge’ over rivals, says boss A theme park that will feature Marvel and Cartoon Network characters and a dinosaur adventure zone will have the upper hand on other attractions because it can operate all year round, its new CEO has said. As rivals close or wind down during the summer, Lennard Otto said that the indoor IMG Theme Parks will continue to attract residents and visitors from oversees. The park, located in Dubailand, is billed as the world’s largest indoor theme park, with a capacity of 20,000 visitors each day and measuring up to 1.5 million sq ft. Dubai Parks and Resorts in Jebel Ali is also expected to open next year, which will include Legoland and a Bollywood-themed park. Otto told 7DAYS: “The difference with IMG is that our location is more convenient. We are 15 minutes away from the airport and we are not going to close on a seasonal basis. “We’re indoors, so we can be open all year long – we don’t have to worry about the weather conditions.” He continued: “A large part of our visitors will be international visitors. “We are on par with major theme parks around the world, but this is the first time Marvel and Cartoon Network characters will be together and I think that will attract a lot of visitors. There are massive Marvel fans out there who would travel internationally to have an experience as such.” The attraction will feature four adventure zones, including Cartoon Network, Marvel, Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure and IMG Boulevard. Earlier this year it was estimated that theme parks in Dubai are set to generate almost Dhs18 billion by 2020, according to the organisers of Dubai Entertainment, Amusement and Leisure show (DEAL). The prediction is based on estimates of about 25 million tourists visiting the UAE. Otto, who previously managed Al Ain’s popular Wadi Adventure park, said: “I am extremely proud and honoured to lead the team at IMG Worlds of Adventure. “As the first world-class theme park in Dubai to open next year, we will offer our guests an interactive and immersive experience. I am also excited for the future development of the park as I believe we have a highly replicable model that we can look to take into a global space in the future.” Otto said the ticket prices for IMG will be revealed “shortly”, however, they will “offer more value as compared to other theme parks globally”. sarwat@7days.ae Read the original story at: Marvel theme park in Dubai will have ‘edge’ over rivals, says boss