A 3 million-square-feet Lego set with 60 million bricks will be unboxed in Dubai this year.
Legoland Dubai and Legoland Waterpark, part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, are set to open on October 31. The theme park designed for families and kids as young as 2, will have 60 rides, shows, water slides, attractions and several food outlets. The main park will have themed areas such as Factory, Lego City, Imagination, Kingdom, Adventure and Miniland, while the water park will boast 20 attractions.
“There are several water parks in the region, but the concept we have here is that families with younger kids can enjoy without a worry,” says Siegfried Boerst, general manager of Legoland Dubai.
The wave pool has a wall that breaks the waves, allowing small children to splash around with spray guns. There is also shaded toddlers’ pool with Lego animals.
The entire park has been created to with Lego’s traditional colourful blocks.
The Factory area will have a minifigure market where kids can build their own figures. “They can choose the head, body, legs and accessories to customise it to their liking,” says Boerst.
The Imagination area offers “constructive playtime”, which helps children develop social and cognitive skills, emotional maturity and self-confidence.
Lego City is modelled on one of Lego’s most popular product ranges for children between the ages of 5 and 12, and has everything, from a fire department to a police station and an airport. Kids can get their first driving licence after taking lessons in an electric car, on a track complete with traffic lights.
“All these rides have an educational element to them,” explains Boerst. “We want to teach them life skills here.”
The Kingdom section has a medieval castle made of giant Lego bricks, which will excite children who are familiar with the box-set range.
“The Dragon Coaster starts in there and then goes through the castle slowly as a train for three minutes. There are different rooms like the torture chamber, royal seating area and a treasure room protected by a dragon. The remaining 1.5 minutes of the ride take place outside the castle.”
Legoland Dubai also has an air-conditioned indoor space named Miniland. Covered by a dome in the centre of the park, it opens up to all the other themed areas, and will showcase iconic structures like the Burj Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, all built of Lego bricks.
“There will also be a functional metro train – also made of Lego – going around the structures,” says Boerst.
Lego-brick animals, cars and figures have been flown in from all over the world to create Legoland Dubai.
The park's 4-D cinema will be the only place in the whole of the Middle East where families will be able to watch The LEGO Movie 4D: A New Adventure.
• Annual passes start from Dh765. Visit www.Legoland.com/dubai
aahmed@thenational.ae
