Dubailand is the vision of Dubai's current ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The development is expected to be a full featured city divided into six theme worlds. The short range goal of the Dubailand is to attract 15 million tourists to Dubai by 2010. Developers expect to accomplish this goal by creating a tourism, entertainment, and leisure destination that will attract visitors not only from surrounding countries but also from Europe and Asia.
On a longer term basis Dubailand is seen as a way to phase out Dubai's dependence on oil revenues by establishing a sustainable economy through higher value added services. The venture is expected to attract approximately 200,000 visitors daily and cost $20 billion.
Dubailand logo Development
The Dubailand project was officially announced on October 23rd, 2003. Dubailand will be built on a 3 billion square foot (278 km˛/107 mile˛) site and will include 45 mega projects and 200 sub projects. It will be twice the size of Walt Disney World Resort, currently the largest collection of amusement parks in the world. Private reaction towards the project has been positive and Dubai has exceeded the $4.9 billion private investment figure it expected on the entire project by collecting approximately $6 billion from the private sector for the first phase alone.
The first of four phases comprising the development of Dubailand will be completed in early 2008 since the developers decided to extend the park by 50% subsequently bumping up its completion date. Completion of the final phase is targeted for some time between 2015 and 2018. Dubailand is seen by its designers as a city and therefore like a city they expect it to continue to grow and develop beyond the four phase plan.
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