Two of the UAE's leaders on Monday got a sneak peek into one of the capital's latest attractions: Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, inaugurated the theme park on Monday night ahead of its public opening on Wednesday.
"With my brother, Mohammed bin Zayed, during the inauguration of Warner Bros Abu Dhabi, one of the largest indoor entertainment cities in the world. A new milestone in our capital . A new destination for our families and an important step to consolidate the tourism sector in our national economy," Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid tweeted alongside images from the opening.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed also tweeted saying: "Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is another tourist attraction that will contribute to the promotion of family tourism in Yas Island.
"We will continue to translate our strategic development plans into reality to achieve global leadership," he said.
Sheikh Zayed bin Ahmed, and Sheikh Saif bin Hamed and Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamed took to the stage, flanked by classic Warner Bros. cartoon characters, and pressed a large red button to mark the official start of the new theme park’s operations.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman; and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council were among the many officials who attended the opening ceremony.
Mohammed Al Mubarak, chairman of Miral Asset Management — developer of the theme park — chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member, was also on hand for the opening on Monday and said: "This is a milestone moment for us as we continue to cement Abu Dhabi’s positioning as one of the world’s leading family and tourism destinations. I am confident that the addition of this theme park to our already rich portfolio will further enhance Yas Island’s offering.”
Seven years in the making, the Dh1 billion theme park on Yas Island boasts 29 rides over more than 1.6 million square feet.
It contains six immersive zones: Gotham City, Metropolis, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch, and Warner Bros Plaza. Each zone will feature live performance shows and superhero characters.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed got a first look at the theme park in March when he toured the construction site with Mr Al Mubarak.
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A glimpse at part the Scooby Doo: The Museum of Mysteries ride, which will have you spinning on giant teacups as you attempt to solve a spooky mystery. Reem Mohammed / The National -
What most impressed me, though, was the way in which everything at Warner Bros. World is connected. In Gotham City, for example, you look up to see a stone dragon with no head. Then when you pop into the Park Row Pawn Shop next door, there is the dragon’s head for sale. Neat touch. Reem Mohammed / The National -
As you wander from one land to the next, the whole atmosphere changes. Gotham City is dark and eerie. Neon lights flash sporadically and the Joker smiles conspiratorially down at you from above. Reem Mohammed / The National -
Guests can dine at Bibbo Bibbowski’s quick service restaurant Ace ‘O Clubs, located in Metropolis. Reem Mohammed / The National -
Even queuing up can be entertaining. In Metropolis, in the area where visitors wait for Justice League: Warworld Attacks, there is an immersive theatre experience and great statues of the Justice League characters. By the time you take a selfie with each of them, the queue has gone down. Another clever touch. Reem Mohammed / The National -
On the Riddler Revolution ride, you sit facing outwards on a giant disc which whirls dizzyingly this way and that as it hurtles up on a near-vertical track and then rushes back down again. It is a full sensory experience: the Riddler chats away at you while clouds of fog blur your vision and dampen your face. Reem Mohammed / The National -
A golden Bugs Bunny greets you on your arrival at the park. Reem Mohammed / The National -
Another fun scene from the Scooby Doo: The Museum of Mysteries ride. Reem Mohammed / The National -
Watch out for the mirrors on the Scooby Doo ride; one of them will give you a proper fright. It really is like being an extra in every Scooby Doo episode you have ever seen. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Read more:
The ultimate guide to Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
Your first look inside Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi — in pictures
How TCA's Mohammed Al Mubarak's love for comics led to a Warner Bros theme park
Abu Dhabi's $1 billion Warner Bros theme park to entertain visitors throughout summer
