Almost 15,000 tickets for Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi have been sold ahead of opening to the public on Wednesday.
And with this summer's tourism figures 6 per cent higher than last year, officials expect the deluge of visitors to the park to persist over at least the next month.
Mohammed Al Mubarak, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, said the new park will be just another attraction to the emirate for international visitors.
"We have been growing in double digits,” he said, referring to Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector.
“Last year we grew more than 10 per cent in terms of numbers. We see extremely strong markets in Abu Dhabi whether they’re from India, China, Russia, and some other European countries, we are continuing to see that growth."
He said plans to add new attractions to the park would ensure it performs well long-term.
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The media descend on Warner Bros World first to be greeted by a golden Bugs Bunny. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The entrance to Abu Dhabi's latest theme park is a blaze of yellow. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Media visitors arrive at the attraction. Antonie Robertson / The National -
An array of sights greet the park's first guests as they walk up Warner Bros Plaza. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The park has six different areas, including Metropolis. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Guests explore Metropolis. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Joker Fun House contains a series of physical and mental challenges in a Batman stylee in Gotham City. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The park's skies are a key part of the experience. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A Hall of Justice replica serves as the entrance to the Justice League ride in Metropolis. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Statues await those who enter the Hall of Justice. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Visitors take snapshots inside the Hall of Justice. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Gotham City is the attraction's darkest area. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Joker Fun House has a sinister edge. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Guests inspect the Riddler Revolution ride. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Scarecrow Scare ride is part of the Gotham City experience . Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Riddler Revolution ride contains hidden surprises. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Animayhem ride is featured in Cartoon Junction. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The park contains rides for younger children. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Dynamite Gulch contains some cartoon favourites. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Cartoon Junction has a series of attractions. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Looney Tunes characters inhabit Dynamite Gulch. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Visitors find familiar characters across the park. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Dynamite Gulch sits beneath cartoon skies. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Scooby Doo house in Cartoon Junction. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Bedrock is home to the Flintstones. Antonie Robertson / The National
"I think we have done a phenomenal job in the last couple of years by bringing something fresh and new to every theme park. After opening Ferrari World we brought in ‘Flying Aces,’ ‘Turbo Challenge,’ ‘Go Carting,’ and we have something extremely exciting coming before the end of the year," he said.
"At Yas WaterPark, we recently brought a new ride, ‘5-D Attraction,’ so our model is to bring a new attraction and new element to the theme parks," he said.
And the spoils will be shared across the emirate, Mr Al Mubarak said.
"Everyone else will benefit from something like this, including Etihad Airways, the infrastructure and the shopping malls.”
Mark Gsellman, general manager of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, said he too is confident the "immersive and unique nature in the park" will attract visitors in the long run both from within the UAE and beyond.
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Read more:
The ultimate guide to Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's $1 billion Warner Bros theme park to entertain visitors throughout summer
Your first look inside Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi — in pictures
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed open Warner Bros World
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"I think the major appeal of our park is that, even in the hot summer, it is a nice and comfortable environment. There is no sand in your face or sun blaring on you. We cannot control the temperature but we can control lighting and sound and a lot of things that gives us the ability to make the park a theatrical presentation," he said when asked if he expects foreign visitors starting this summer.
"We've had between 10,000 and 15,000 people buy a ticket or annual pass (online) so far. Our tickets are not dated but we expect that if someone if buying a ticket that they would want to go as soon as it opens."
The promising sales buck the trend of other theme parks in the country that suffered substantial losses last year.
Dubai Parks and Resorts, which is on the outskirts of the city and is largely outdoor, had a difficult 2017, posting losses of more than Dh1 billion.
It has since restructured and managed to boost visitor numbers, particularly targeting the Gulf states. More than 850,000 people passed through its gates in the first three months of this year, a 45 per cent increase on the previous year.
Mr Gsellman said he was certain Warner Bros would be a success as visitors would be attracted to the brand, best represented by the six immersive zones that include Superman's Metropolis, Batman's Gotham City and the Flintstones' Bedrock.
"The attractions that can be experienced from the zones, either in Gotham City or The Plaza, have a global reach. Warner Bros is a very powerful brand," he said.
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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, who is hand-in-hand with Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammed (L) and Sheikha Salama bint Mohammed (3rd L), attend the opening of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed holds his granddaughter, Sheikha Salama bint Diab, at the opening of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Seen with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director Mubadala, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member (back). Eissa Al Hammadi for The Crown Prince Court -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed attend the opening of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Eissa Al Hammadi for The Crown Prince Court -
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attends the opening of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Seen with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamed, Sheikh Saif bin Hamed, Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamed and other young dignitaries. Eissa Al Hammadi for The Crown Prince Court -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammed, and Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, attend the opening of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Seen with Sheikh Hamdan. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Mohammed Al Mubarak attend the opening of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Seen with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikha Salama bint Mohammed (L) and Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammed (2nd L) stand for a photograph with super heroes during the opening of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Zayed bin Hamed (L), Sheikh Saif bin Hamed (C) and Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamed (R), push the button to signal the start of operations at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Eissa Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Saif takes a photo of the superheroes at the opening of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Eissa Al Hammadi for The Crown Prince Court -
Guests watch a show during the opening of Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Eissa Al Hammadi for The Crown Prince Court
The theme park on Yas Island cost $1 billion to build and boasts 29 rides — all of which will be open on Wednesday — over more than 148,645 square metres. It was toured by 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, on Monday.
Describing what visitors can expect from the rides, Mr Gsellman said: "You're going to be touring with the Justice League, then something will happen and you will get on a spaceship that you will be called to help and fly to save the earth.
"You will save the earth a lot here," he said with a smile.
