Contractor wins Abu Dhabi theme park construction deal

05 May 2015

New attraction will be built on Yas Island

  • Six Construct wins AED2bn ($544m) deal to build Warner Bros theme park in Abu Dhabi
  • New attraction will be located on Yas Island
  • Project is latest theme park in the UAE to move into construction

The local/Belgian Six Construct Abu Dhabi has won the estimated AED2bn ($544m) contract to build the Warner Bros theme park on Yas Island.

The project involves building indoor and outdoor areas for 19 themed rides. The indoor rides will be housed in a large steel-frame structure.

The project manager is US-based Louis Berger. The operator of the theme park will be the local Farah Leisure.

The expansion is part of the ongoing development on Yas Island and Abu Dhabi’s plans to further develop its position as a regional tourism destination.

The largest new development is Yas Mall, which opened in November 2014, in time for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is the emirate’s largest mall and has 400 retail units as well as a 20-screen, state-of-the-art cinema.

There is also an expansion of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi under way. In July 2014, Six Construct won an estimated AED250m ($68m) contract for construction work on the project, involving adding small buildings and constructing internal structures for new rides and attractions at the indoor theme park.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is already the world’s largest indoor theme park and home to Formula Rossa, which is the world’s fastest rollercoaster with a top speed of 240 kilometres an hour. Ferrari World opened in November 2010 and was the UAE’s first major branded theme park.

Six Construct has also secured theme park construction work in Dubai, which is also investing in new attractions. In 2014, its local joint venture Bel Hasa Six Construct started work on the Legoland theme park at the Dubai Parks & Resorts development in the Jebel Ali area of Dubai.

That deal added to contract wins for the Hub Zero and Green Planet theme parks that are being built by Six Construct in the Satwa area, close to Sheikh Zayed Road.

The Hub Zero and Living Planet theme parks are being developed by local developer Meraas, while Legoland is being developed by Meraas’ listed affiliate Dubai Parks & Resorts.

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