Anyone who has undergone a home improvement or construction project knows that these things always take longer and are far more expensive than they originally planned for.
But one project in Dubai may be one of the slowest-moving and most expensive construction endeavors of all time. At a price tag of $64 billion, the Dubailand theme park has been under construction for more than 20 years and is nowhere near completed.
The Plan for Dubailand
Dubailand, also called the “Disneyland of the Middle East,” was designed and announced in October 2003. The ginormous theme park was planned to rival Disney World in Florida, with 107 square miles of attractions.
The original budget was set at an almost unbelievable $64 billion, and that included the construction of a Sahara Kingdom theme park, an Attractions and Experience World, an IMAX theater, a Sports and Outdoor World, a retail complex, hotels, and even residences for staff.
Dubailand vs. Disney World
For comparison, Disney World in Florida is one of the largest and most beloved theme parks on the planet. However, it only spans 43 square miles and, accounting for inflation, cost about $31 billion to build.
So, it’s safe to say that Dubailand was not just supposed to rival Disney World but was actually meant to be bigger, better, and, consequently, far more expensive.
Why Did Construction on Dubailand Stop?
With a $64 billion budget in mind, in 2004, the company running the construction of Dubailand, Dubai Holding, got to work building the incredible park. However, only four years later, the global economy plummeted, leaving Dubai Holding without sufficient funding to continue.
Construction completely stopped in 2008, and for five long years, not a single brick was laid. During that time, Dubai Holding was desperately trying to meet with several entertainment companies about investments and partnerships to get things up and running again, and there were rumors that the plan was working.
DreamWorks and Six Flags Got Involved With Dubailand
In 2008, rumors circulated that DreamWorks, Six Flags, and Merlin Entertainment were all seriously considering investing in Dubailand and opening their own “worlds” within the giant park.
However, the negotiations fizzled, and no partnerships or investments were ever finalized. Fortunately, by 2013, Dubai Holding was able to start construction again, but eleven years later, the park is still being built.
The World’s Largest Natural Flower Garden
The organizers for Dubailand had so many different attractions and projects planned that they always knew some would open before others. The first mini-park they focused on was the world’s largest natural flower garden, which they named “Dubai Miracle Garden.”
The doors opened to this 775,000-square-foot garden on February 13, 2013, boasting an awe-inspiring 250 million plants and 50 million flowers.
IMG Worlds of Adventure Opened Next
Three years later, in 2016, they opened a second park called the IMG Worlds of Adventure, which is Dubai’s largest indoor theme park.
With several roller coasters, playgrounds, theaters, educational attractions, arcade games, and much more, the park is truly an amazing one-of-a-kind experience for any kid or kid at heart.
The Trump World Golf Club
Only one other of the many planned attractions in Dubailand has been fully completed: The Trump World Golf Club.
An 18-hole golf course designed by Tiger Woods and funded by the Trump Organization, The Trump World Golf Club is one of the most luxurious courses on the planet.
Dubailand Now Has Competition
Of course, Dubailand is nowhere near the extravagant theme park that they originally designed. While they still hope to eventually complete the incredible theme park, once they do, they will have some unexpected competition.
When Dubai Holding released the plan for the park in 2003, there were very few other theme parks in the city. But over the past two decades, several have been planned, designed, and fully constructed, including Dubai Parks and Resorts.
Dubai Parks and Resorts Has Become Extremely Popular
Just 21 miles from the site that will one day be Dubailand sits Dubai Parks and Resorts. It boasts several beautiful hotels and restaurants, a Legoland theme park and a Legoland water park, over 100 rides, and an incredible theater called Motiongate.
Since opening in 2016, Dubai Parks and Resorts has become one of the most popular theme parks in the Middle East. In fact, more than 15 million people visited during the first six months of 2023. Some wonder if Dubailand (if it ever opens) will be able to compete with such a beloved park.
What’s Next for Dubailand?
Several miles from Dubai Parks and Resorts, one can still hear the constant construction going on at what will eventually be Dubailand.
However, when trying to find the park on Google Maps, there still appears to be much more desert than there are roller coasters.
Will Dubailand Ever Be Completed?
There are abandoned theme parks all over the world. Some went way over budget and were never completed; others were up and running for a while but shut down as customers moved on to newer and more exciting attractions.
It’s too soon to say whether Dubailand will become just another half-completed theme park, but if it is, it will likely be one of the biggest and most sensational parks on the planet.
