World’s largest indoor theme park opens in Dubai

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in September 2016.

It’s already home to the world’s tallest buildings, biggest shopping malls and largest man-made islands. Now, Dubai can claim yet another superlative – the “world’s largest indoor theme park.”

IMG Worlds of Adventure, an amusement park that cost more than $1 billion dollars and took three years to build, opened its doors to the public in 2016. The park is as big as 28 football fields, measuring some 1.5 million square feet in size.

“We wanted this to be an icon for Dubai itself and an icon for the region,” says Lennard Otto, CEO of IMG Worlds of Adventure. “And opening the world’s largest indoor theme park seemed very fitting for this market.”

Dubai’s fastest and tallest roller coaster

IMG Worlds of Adventure —

IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world's largest indoor theme park, opened in Dubai on August 31. The Predator roller coaster (pictured) is one of 22 rides and attractions.

Billion-dollar project —

The park is as big as 28 football fields, measuring some 1.5 million square feet in size. It cost more than $1 billion dollars and took three years to build.

The Velociraptor —

The signature ride at the theme park, the Velociraptor, sets another record in Dubai -- fastest and tallest roller coaster in the emirate.

Lost Valley -- Dinosaur Adventure —

The Velociraptor is part of the Lost Valley -- Dinosaur Adventure zone, alongside rides such as Forbidden Territory and the Carnivore Hut food outlet.

Dino Carousel —

Dino Carousel is another Lost Valley attraction.

Marvel —

The park features characters under license from Marvel, such as the Avengers Flight of the Quinjets ride.

Chang's Golden Dragon —

Pan-Asian restaurant Chang's Golden Dragon, in the Marvel zone, is one of 28 dining outlets. There are also 25 retail stores on site.

The Haunted Hotel —

Dare you stay at the Haunted Hotel? Gearing up for the Halloween crowds, this spooky attraction is for over-15s only.

The Powerpuff Girls -- Mojo Jojo's Robot Rampage! —

There are also characters under license from Cartoon Network, which is owned by CNN's parent company, Turner. The Powerpuff Girls ride lets little ones take to the skies alongside Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup.

Adventure Time Tree House —

The Tree House is part of an adventure land inspired by the Cartoon Network show Adventure Time.

Dubai largest indoor theme park

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The signature ride at the theme park, the Velociraptor, sets another record in Dubai – fastest and tallest roller coaster in the emirate.

The Velociraptor shoots riders out of the gates to over 60 miles per hour in under three seconds. It also features eight stomach-churning loops and corkscrews.

And that’s not all – there are 21 other rides and attractions, 28 dining outlets, and 25 retail stores. The park is air-conditioned to attract visitors even during Dubai’s sweltering summers. IMG Worlds of Adventure also features characters under license from Marvel and Cartoon Network, which is owned by CNN’s parent company.

Coming soon

But it’s certainly not the only amusement park in town. Later this year, the even bigger Dubai Parks and Resorts development is set to open just outside the city.

That park – built at a cost of more than $3 billion dollars – includes LegoLand, a Bollywood-themed zone, and a water park.

The new theme parks are part of Dubai’s plan to boost tourism to the United Arab Emirates amid plunging oil prices in the Gulf. As many as 18 million visitors could visit Dubai’s amusement centers by 2021, according to analysts.

Huairou —

Stefano Cerio's images for "Chinese Fun", shot using an old plate camera, explore the grim realities of off-season and abandoned theme parks and the props that get left behind.

This gigantic bowl of concrete fruit was found by the roadside on the outskirts of Beijing, where many orchards are located.

Wonderland Amusement Park, Nankou —

Not all of the parks are simply witnessing an off-season lull. In the early 2000s, China's rush to develop left a smattering of unrealized development plans. This abandoned castle, about 20 miles outside of Beijing, has stood tall and rotting since 1998.  

Shijingshang Park, Beijing —

This park, which opened in the mid-80s, came under fire in 2007, for apparent copyright violations in relation to its Disney-like features. This photo shows one of the places you can grab a bite to eat at the park (if you dare). The mismatch of design -- dripping cheese, ice cream, and a dopey rabbit dreaming up a goldfish hamburger aren't exactly appetite inducing.

Huairou —

This fake baby grand piano has seen happier days. Cast aside in Huairou, a district nestled in northern Beijing, the piano is an old set piece used for wedding photography. In China, wedding photos are taken before couples tie the knot. Often these photos involve elaborate, fantasy scenes and multiple dresses.

Polar Ocean Park, Qingdao —

The park houses dolphins, penguins, polar bears and marine life in Qingdao, a coastal city in China. It's ocean theater can seat up to 2,800 people. Cerio told CNN Style, "I don't absolutely like the aesthetic of abandonment. I like the absence of people." During warmer months, the parks he captures are full of thousands of people.

Shanghai Happy Valley, Shanghai —

Grey skies that would normally allow colors to pop, instead add to the bleak, dismal feeling permeating throughout. This theme park spans 213 acres and is roughly an hour's drive from downtown Shanghai.

Little China, Shenzhen —

This life-sized statue of a popular figurine portrays a happy Chinese couple dressed in traditional wedding garb. In China, the color red is a symbol of love, prosperity, and happiness.

Tuanjiehu Park, Beijing —

Summer paddle boats are tethered to one another, forming a small island in the middle of a lake. Cerio's work often captures an image suspended in time and space -- in this case, the boats are frozen in ice.

People Park-Shanghai —

"Chinese Fun" portrays a very different side of China and amusement parks. Gone are the happy masses and endless queues we have come to associate with these scenes. Stefano Cerio's photos, shot during the off-season and in winter, are devoid of a single person.

Xiedao Holiday Village, Beijing —

This thin, wiry rollercoaster, found at the Xiedao Holiday Village theme park, is juxtaposed with the density of the surrounding residential blocks.

Great Wall Toboggan —

The Great Wall Toboggan is a treat for tourists visiting the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. First Lady Michelle Obama took a ride when she visited China in 2014. This is one of the 54 photos featured in the book, "Chinese Fun."

Chinese amusement park photos explore the darker side of funfairs

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