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Dh8b Disneyland-style theme park for Dubai

DUBAI — Dubai will have its own Disneyland-style theme park where visitors can relive fantasies and adventures once reserved for Hollywood silver screen.

Scenes from some of the biggest films in Hollywood history, such as Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, or King Kong, among others, will be transformed into adventures with the completion of the Dh8 billion Universal City Dubailand project in 2010.

Visitors to the park can explore an ageless land of ancient myths and epic legends. For example, they can watch the death-defying stunts and heart-stopping feats of the mighty sailor Sindbad and his faithful sidekick Kabob attempting to rescue the beautiful Princess Amoura from the evil witch Miseria.

The project, a 22-million-sq-ft development, will be built within Dubailand. It is being jointly developed by Tatweer and Universal Parks and Resorts (UPR), a unit of NBC Universal, which owns Universal Studios Hollywood.

Spielberg, one of the world's most renowned motion picture directors of all time and a three-time Academy Award winner, is the creative consultant for Universal Studios theme parks.

"Mr Spielberg will help shape Universal Studios Dubailand into a unique and outstanding world-class facility," said Tom Williams of UPR.

Saeed Al Muntafiq, Executive Chairman of Tatweer, said the park would contain four zones, including Hollywood Zone, Metropolis Zone and Adventure Zone.

Universal's theme parks are also known for some of most thrilling and technologically advanced "ride-the-movies" motion picture and television show-based attractions.

The first phase of the facility, scheduled to come on stream by 2010, will cover an area of 6.5 million sq ft and will be among the world's largest theme parks.

The park aims to attract 3.3 million visitors in its first year of operation and then up to around 5 million visitors per year, said Al Muntafiq.

Universal Studios Dubailand will also include hotels, retail outlets, commercial offices and residential compounds.