Hollywood-inspired theme park Motiongate Dubai will reopen on Wednesday, September 23, after many months of closure due to the coronavirus. To celebrate this, the park has launched a special re-opening offer of 2-for-1 on entry, with tickets costing Dh275.
The offer is valid to all UAE residents making bookings before Tuesday, September 22. These tickets can be used for visits until Saturday, October 31.
Guests who don’t want to go home after a day at the park can stay at the Lapita Hotel, the Polynesian-inspired family resort that will reopen on Wednesday, September 23, and has some new staycation deals.
Guests can book a deluxe room starting from Dh530 per night for up to two guests, including free access to Motiongate Dubai and a half-board food and beverage offering. Those looking to splurge can go all out by booking a luxury villa from Dh2,450 per night for up to six guests, including a private pool, Jacuzzi and in-villa breakfast, complimentary buggy transport, and Q-Fast Passes to Motiongate Dubai.
Motiongate Dubai is the first park in Dubai Parks and Resorts to reopen. The park, which houses 27 rides and attractions inspired by 13 Hollywood films (including The Hunger Games, Shrek and Madagascar) will also be adding enhanced safety measures.
The attraction has already been certified as a Dubai Assured compliant destination. Temperature checks and face masks will be mandatory, social distancing measures will be implemented, enhanced disinfection procedures will be in place and hand sanitisers and contactless payments will be available throughout the park.
“2020 has been a tough year for all, however we look forward to witnessing the joy, laughter and thrilled screams of our guests, as we begin to create amazing memories again. During the temporary closure due to the pandemic, all our teams have been working diligently on implementing enhanced safety measures and focusing on the park enhancement works.
"As always, our number one priority is making sure that all our visitors have a safe journey across the destination as they enjoy all the amazing fun we have on offer for all ages," says Denis Pascal, General Manager, Motiongate Dubai.
Advanced online booking will be required for all visitors as the park will be operating at a limited capacity on all rides, restaurants and shops.
The reopening dates of Bollywood Parks Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Legoland Waterpark will also be announced soon, the company says.
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
