UAE: Dubai Parks and Resorts Received 2.8 Million Visitors In 2018

A strong fourth quarter helped push overall visitor numbers at Dubai Parks and Resorts to nearly 2.8 million, a 22 per cent gain over the 2017 traffic. Other factors too played their part.

There was a successful integration of the annual pass programme, increased occupancy and therefore visitation from the Lapita Hotel and increased footfall from international tourists, DXB Entertainment said in a statement. Tourists made up 40 per cent of the traffic.

In Q4-18, there were 819,000 visitors and up from 796,000 for the same period in 2017, helped along by the winter seasonality, the Halloween, UAE’s 47th anniversary, and the winter school break.

The increase in tourists demonstrate our strategic partnerships with Emirates airline, RTA and Dubai Airport, as well as China’s Union Pay, are showing good results, said Mohammad Almulla, CEO and Managing Director, DXB Entertainments.

Lapita Hotel average occupancy has seen significant growth reaching 60 per cent, compared to 35 per cent in 2017, positioning itself as an attractive and unique family holiday resort in the UAE and the region. In December, there were days when the hotel had full occupancy.

Looking ahead, our priority is to continue increasing footfall from international tourists, which is a key growth driver for the destination, while also maintaining the solid base of local and regional visitors.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Average Hotel Room Rates Drop In Dubai, Reason Simply Too Many New Hotels

The average hotel room rates across Dubai have dropped despite a surge in visitor numbers, according to a new report.

The latest preliminary data released by STR analysts on Monday showed that most hoteliers across the city are still enticing guests with lower rates in a bid to fill their rooms.

During the month of December, hotels were charging less, with the average daily rate (ADR) dropping 4.3 per cent to Dh758.80, while the revenue per available room (RevPAR) fell 6.9 per cent to Dh600.98.

December or the last quarter of the year is traditionally a busy period for the tourism industry in Dubai. Last November alone saw 6.9 million passengers arriving in Dubai International Airport.

One of the top tourist destinations in the UAE, the Dubai Parks and Resorts attracted more guests, with nearly 2.8 million people visiting in the fourth quarter of 2018, up 22 per cent from the same period in 2017.

With high guest arrivals, demand for hotel rooms in the city, which is measured by room nights sold, went up by 5.6 per cent in December.

However, there hasn’t been enough guests to fill all the available rooms, which is why most hotels were not fully booked throughout the month.

The overall occupancy rate for December fell by 2.7 per cent to 79.2 per cent.

The only exception was New Year’s Eve, when occupancy levels reached 97.1 per cent, up from 1.9 per cent from the previous year, but the average daily rate still fell 2 per cent to Dh1,703.15.

According to STR analysts, the problem is that there are just too many new hotels being built around the city.

The story remains the same for Dubai. Demand continues to grow, but an influx of new inventory is pressuring occupancy and average daily rate levels,STR said in its report.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Thousands Of Visitors Expected In Dubai In A Few Weeks To Come

Thousands of tourists from the GCC, Europe and other major markets are expected to flock to Dubai over the next few weeks, as the city has just unveiled a number of mega attractions and the emirate’s social events calendar is fast filling up.

Dubai has recently launched several key projects, including the 1.5-million-square-foot IMG Worlds of Adventure and the much bigger leisure destination, the 25-million-square-foot Dubai Parks and Resorts, which is home to three theme parks and one water park.

Just more than a week earlier, Dubai witnessed the grand opening of the 3.2-kilometre Dubai Water Canal, which links the Dubai Creek to the Arabian Gulf.

With so many exciting things now on offer, hotels in the city are seeing a growing number of tourist arrivals, with occupancy levels rising to as much as 80 per cent. Towards the end of the year, many hoteliers are expecting higher or full occupancy.

Industry sources said the huge influx of visitors will surely give a much-needed boost to the tourism industry after a slow summer and sluggish demand from key markets. Visitor numbers from big-spending markets like Russia had earlier declined, owing to the decline in oil prices and strengthening of the US dollar, but this trend is starting to change.

“With new developments on the tourism front, where Dubai has seen three new attractions opening in a span of just three months, Dubai is sure to win hearts of tourists and it is going to pull in a huge number probably exceeding earlier years,” said Moussa El Hayek, COO of Al Bustan Centre and Residence.

“This is the best season for the travellers to visit Dubai, hence the excitement surely is in the air,” he added.

El Hayek said they’re expecting a huge number of guests from Russia and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

“This year, we have seen a steady flow of tourists from Russia. Currently, we are enjoying a decent share of 80 per cent occupancy level. We plan to increase it by at least 20 per cent over the next few weeks.”

“The trends surely are positive and we see an upward booking curve.”

Dubai’s hotel occupancy had earlier dropped, averaging 84.7 per cent in the first three months of the year, down from 85.6 per cent in the same period of 2015. The decline was partly due to the size of new hotel supply, which outpaced demand growth for the same period. As of October this year, Dubai recorded more than 19,000 rooms in 67 hotels still under construction, according to STR data.

A spokesperson for Millennium Plaza Hotel in Dubai said that over the next few weeks, they are expecting to see a “good mix” of travellers from the GCC, Far East and Europe. “We have also seen a rise of travellers from the Americas. Our occupancy level fluctuates between the high 80s to the high 90s, with a few days at 100 per cent,” the hotel said.

“This trend will continue toward the end of the year. Hopefully, we expect to be in line or a bit higher in occupancy compared to 2015.”

“A lot of factors will boost visitor numbers- meetings, exhibitions, short breaks, the opening of various theme parks and various air connection routes via Dubai.”

UAE: Dubai Parks And Resorts To Become Middle East’s Largest Multi-themed Leisure And Entertainment Destination

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has inspected the finishing touches at Legoland and Riverland Dubai at the Dubai Parks and Resorts, the largest joint theme park destination in the Middle East.

The two parks will be opened to the public in the next two days.

The project is spread across 30 million square feet of land, strategically located on Shaikh Zayed Road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and is close to the Expo 2020 location.

The Dh13 billion Dubai Parks and Resorts development is set to become the Middle East’s largest multi-themed leisure and entertainment destination.

In addition to Legoland and Legoland Water Park, the resort will feature two additional theme parks: Motiongate Dubai, a Hollywood movie inspired theme park concept, and Bollywood Parks Dubai, a first-of-its-kind entertainment destination that will showcase the authentic Bollywood movie experience.

The destination will also host a Polynesian-themed hotel, and Riverland Dubai, a centrally located district of 220,000 square feet of leasable retail, dining and entertainment space connecting the three theme parks, water park and hotel.

Shaikh Mohammad said the cultural and tourist landmark would elevate the UAE’s position as a regional and global family entertainment and tourism destination.

“This national cultural achievement will add new building blocks to the structure of development and progress of the UAE,” Shaikh Mohammad added.

Shaikh Mohammad began his tour at the French village at Riverland Dubai, the gateway to Dubai Parks and Resorts, where he viewed the medieval French town and historic architecture of Europe from the late 1600s, as well as visited towers, water wheels and alleyways.

Riverland Dubai has four themed zones that offer a glimpse into some of the greatest eras of the past – from 1950s America at The Boardwalk to medieval France at The French Village, colonial India at India Gate and the 19th century themed Peninsula.

Shaikh Mohammad then proceeded to Legoland Dubai, where Raed Kajour Al Nuaimi, CEO of Dubai Parks and Resorts, described the creation of the largest world-class leisure and entertainment destination in the Middle East and North Africa, from design to construction.

Legoland Dubai is designed for families with children aged 2-12 and will feature over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions, along with 15,000 LEGO model structures made from over 60 million LEGO bricks.

Al Nuaimi said construction began in March 2013 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, becoming the region’s first world-class integrated resort, cultural and entertainment destination for UAE citizens, expatriate residents, holiday makers and visitors to the UAE and Expo 2020. Shaikh Mohammad also visited Bollywood Parks Dubai, the first park of its kind, which includes five zones inspired by the greatest Bollywood blockbusters, and Motiongate Dubai, the region’s largest immersive Hollywood-inspired theme park.

Later, Shaikh Mohammad inspected work at Six Flags Dubai, the first branded theme park in the region. Planned to open in late 2019, Six Flags Dubai will be the fourth theme park at the Dubai Parks and Resorts destination and will include 27 rides and attractions for all ages across six themed zones, including Thrillseeker Plaza, Magic Mountain, Fiesta Texas, Great Escape, Great Adventure, and Great America, as well as a Polynesian themed family hotel.

By 2020, Dubai is projected to welcome 20 million tourists annually, which will boost efforts aimed at diversifying the sources of the nation’s revenues.

UAE: Bollywood, Hollywood enrolled in Dubai Tourism Drive Enrols Bollywood And Hollywood

Domes inspired by the royal palaces of India rise from a new Bollywood theme park under construction in Dubai, part of a drive to lure millions more tourists to the emirate.

It already boasts opulent shopping malls and numerous luxury resorts, but the Gulf city-state has even grander ambitions and the film industry is centre stage.

Bollywood Parks is part of Dubai Parks and Resorts (DPR) which is being developed as the region’s "largest integrated theme park resort".

Spread over 25 million square feet, it will feature three theme parks and a water park.

The resort is located near the region’s busiest port and close to where Dubai is expanding its second airport to make it the world’s largest.

The Bollywood theme park, a first of its kind inspired by the Indian popular movie industry, aims with its centrepiece Rajmahal Theatre, cinemas, rides and simulators to increase Dubai’s appeal to tourists from South Asia.

"We are trying to target a wide geographic area, but of course the majority will be from India and countries in close proximity to India ... and are big lovers of Bollywood," said its general manager, Thomas Jellum.

Around 14,000 construction workers are toiling round the clock to keep DPR on track for its October opening.

More than 14.2 million people visited Dubai in 2015, but the target is 20 million by 2020 when the Gulf emirate hosts the global trade fair Expo 2020.

Dubai has invested billions of dollars over more than a decade to put itself on the map as a regional business and tourism hub.

It has built a modern infrastructure unmatched by its regional peers.

And as turmoil hits traditional tourism destinations in the Middle East and North Africa, Dubai has capitalised on its reputation as a safe haven for tourism and business.

Tourism authorities have said hotel capacity was to reach 100,000 rooms in May, boasting that Dubai aims to "position itself as a top 10 global destination in terms of available hotel supply".

Hotel occupancy stood at 85 percent in the first quarter of 2016, with average nightly revenue of $142 per available room.

To increase tourist numbers, Dubai is looking for visitors far from beyond its Gulf neighbourhood.

"The benefits would be limited if we rely on markets that we are used to. We need to expand our marketing to new places," said Dubai Tourism chief Issam Kazim. Visitors from Gulf countries represented the largest regional group last year at 3.3 million, up 12.8 percent, with Saudis alone numbering 1.54 million.

But Indian visitors surged by 26 percent to 1.6 million, becoming for the first time the largest single nationality, while Britons rose 11 percent to 1.2 million.

"We do not want to focus on six or seven markets. We want to focus on 20 markets," Kazim told AFP.

Bollywood Parks will target visitors passing through Dubai and aims to "keep them a little bit longer", said Jellum.
Other theme parks are also being developed to increase the number of visitors.

Next door, Motiongate Dubai teams up three major Hollywood studios -- Dreamworks, Sony Pictures and Lionsgate. It features rides that take visitors across simulated settings like the Smurfs Village, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, among 27 attractions based on 13 popular movies.

"Our target is everybody," said Motiongate Dubai general manager Guido Zucchi, including visitors from Gulf countries and elsewhere.

The theme parks are only the latest additions to a long list of entertainment venues in Dubai, including an indoor ski slope.

But authorities do not seem worried about saturation in Dubai’s tourism market. "We follow a long-term strategy," said Dubai Tourism’s Kazim.

He said authorities make sure "hotel room numbers do not rise before seeing that the number of visitors is increasing," stressing there is "continuous dialogue between the private sector and the government" over expansion.

Motiongate Dubai is also confident. "The tourists that Dubai is attracting every year, together with the expected ones for the following years, will absolutely be enough to create in this region an important destination, not only for tourism but also for leisure," said Zucchi.

UAE: Etisalat Signs MidEast's First 'smart' Theme Park Resort

Dubai Parks and Resorts, the region’s largest integrated theme park destination, and Etisalat announced their collaboration in creating the region’s first smart theme park resort.

As part of the collaboration, Etisalat said it will design and implement creative end-to-end smart solutions as well as build and manage a park-wide ICT (information and communications technology) and security infrastructure in preparation for the opening of the resort in October.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies said they will work closely together to deliver a "seamless and engaging" guest experience through mobile devices, web portals, wristbands, smart kiosks and digital signage.

Etisalat will implement a set of smart applications and solutions at the entertainment destination to offer an innovative experience before, during and after the visit to the resort. These include unified marketing and engagement, smart ticketing, digital payments, smart parking, connected transportation, connected food and beverage, as well as retail and digital entertainment.

Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO, Dubai Parks and Resorts, said: "Once operational, Dubai Parks and Resorts will not only fulfil the UAE’s vision to create an innovative digital economy while simultaneously supporting Dubai’s drive to build a smart city, but will also bring to life a consumer experience where the Internet of Things is realised.”

He added: “Today, we live in a digital world and our guests expect a fully integrated digital experience. Our partnership with Etisalat delivers on this expectation, and will enable access to Dubai Parks and Resorts in many forms. From booking tickets, to finding parking spaces, to choosing rides with lower wait times or deciding on the right cuisine to eat, this collaboration will facilitate an unforgettable trip for visitors with few simple clicks on their smart devices."

Saleh Al Abdooli, CEO of Etisalat, said: “We are pleased about this partnership as it paves the way for the region’s first smart park and contributes to making the UAE the most sought-after global destination for family-oriented entertainment.

“Through state-of-the-art infrastructure and platforms such as cloud, M2M and IoT, and with our expertise, capabilities and strong track record of delivering flagship ICT projects, we believe we are well-positioned to support Dubai Parks and Resorts realise its smart park vision and objectives."

Dubai Parks and Resorts will feature motiongate Dubai as well as the region’s first Legoland Park and a Legoland Water Park. It will also feature Bollywood Parks Dubai, the first ever theme park based on the sights and sounds of Bollywood. The entire destination will be connected by Riverland Dubai – a retail, dining and entertainment walkway while guests can stay at the Lapita Hotel, a Polynesian-themed resort catering to families.

UAE: Dubai Parks And Resorts

This is set to be an exciting and pivotal year for the theme park and entertainment industry in the region, as a number of different projects come to life that will cement the UAE’s reputation as a global theme park destination.

There is currently a real buoyancy and confidence that the burgeoning theme parks industry will add value and create fantastic opportunities here in the region in many different ways – not just in boosting tourism but also in generating revenue and creating strong local employment offerings.

The Tourism Vision 2020, which was set out by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is a blueprint for Dubai to double its annual visitor numbers from 10 million in 2012 to 20 million in 2020, and increase the economic contribution of the tourism sector. Positioning Dubai as a global entertainment destination and leading family resort is a core part of this vision.

The opening of several new theme parks and family-entertainment sites such as Dubai Parks and Resorts, which opens in October 2016, will create more reasons to visit the UAE and will therefore play a key role in helping reach these targets.

A recent study by Euromonitor International suggested that theme park revenues for the UAE would reach $837m in 2019 – a significant figure. Over two-thirds of the global population live within an eight-hour flight of Dubai and we also know that record numbers of passengers are passing through Dubai International Airport, with passenger numbers expected to reach 90 million in 2018, so there is so much potential still untapped.

Last autumn the consultancy firm PwC said the UAE’s location and hotels make it well-placed to compete with other popular theme park destinations, such as Orlando, and that the UAE could see over 18 million visits to theme parks by 2021.

This is in line with our own predictions - Dubai Parks and Resorts is expecting 6.7 million ticketed visits in 2017, our first full year of operation, and we have a projected revenue of $650m.

It is this belief that the UAE can become the ultimate destination for families, thrill-seekers and fun-hunters that has supported Dubai Parks and Resorts as we aim to achieve something never done before - open three theme parks on one site simultaneously.