Climate not a hindrance for MENA amusement industry: Falaknaz

Hot weather conditions do not affect MENA’s entertainment and amusement industry any more according to Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, Chairman of International Expo Consults (IEC) and organizer of the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure (DEAL) show. GCC is set to witness a rise in tourism, with current and upcoming theme parks that will attract tourists and residents alike. 

According to Business Monitor International (BMI), UAE is expanding its tourism sector every year, 7.6 percent year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals and 9.6 percent increase in tourism receipts. Various factors that drive tourists and residents to visit UAE are its convenient transportation system, strategic location, numerous numbers of luxurious and affordable hotels, and the region’s leisure and entertainment climate customization. 

“Theme parks and family entertainment centres have customized itself to factor in the region’s weather conditions. As the region experiences the hot and dry climate all-year round, especially in the summer where temperatures reach above 40 °C, indoor theme parks became a hit for tourists and residents alike as they can still enjoy with their families and friends in spire of the weather conditions. Conceptualizing and developing creative outdoor themeparks with an indoor outlook is an engineering marvel and can be used throughout the year,” Falaknaz said. 

Theme parks being developed in the UAE are IMG Worlds of Adventure, Dubai Parks and Resorts and Mall of the World, the world’s first temperature-controlled city, among other developments addressing the global demand for cutting-edge family and tourism destinations. 

“Climate has always been a challenge and we all know that our summers are very harsh. However, this factor is taken into consideration while designing these giant theme parks. Most of the new theme parks that are coming are majorly indoor, so the climate works as an advantage and not a deterrent anymore. In fact, the busiest months for some theme parks are the summer months. Themepark developers have already addressed all such factors regarding weather,” commented Prakash Vivekanand, Managing Director of Amusement Services International. 

PricewaterCoopers (PwC) revealed that UAE theme parks are to receive 18 million visits by 2021, in line with its vision to transform itself into an ultimate tourism destination. 

“Temperature-controlled theme parks allow us to be fully operational 365 days a year. Being indoors not only protects us from the climate, but allows even more ways in which we can adapt the environment to truly reflect the stories we want to tell,” said Lennard Otto, CEO of IMG Worlds of Adventure.

“DEAL is considered as the most important amusement industry exhibition outside the United States as it attracts various visitors from all over the world. Fifty two percent of the global visitors are from the top level management who are capable of making on the spot decisions on the behalf of their company and thirty eight percent are second-tier decision makers,” said Sharif Rahman, CEO, IEC.

DEAL 2016 event will be held from 19th to 21st April, 2016 at Zabeel Halls 4, 5 and 6 in the Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE.