Dh4.6bn Dubailand project underway

Woody and Winnie Woodpecker and a ferocious raptor were among the guests at a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday for the Dh4.6 billion, seven million sqft Universal Studios Dubailand project.

The event was hosted by Dubailand CEO Mohammed Al Habbai and Laurent Jeanjean, Vice-President of Universal Studios Dubailand. The theme park will be divided into five zones – Surf City Boardwalk, Epic Adventures, the Land of Legendary Heroes, Hollywood and New York. The heroes section was represented at the ceremony by two fierce Nubian guards.

"We are proud to announce the ground-breaking of Universal Studios Dubailand, the premier theme park in the Middle East and the star of Dubailand," said Jeanjean.

The project is due for completion in December 2010 and will join the family of renowned theme parks.