Contractors to hand over Abu Dhabi's Ferrari World in August

21 April 2010

Aldar Properties will open the Yas Island theme park in October

The joint venture of Belgium’s Besix and the local Aldar Properties is planning to finish work in August on the 280,000 square-metre Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island.

The project client Aldar Properties will then open the theme park in October, says a consultant working on the project.

Ferrari World includes a museum, a theatre, several roller-coasters and a high-speed driving school. The two focal points of the theme park include a 60-metre freefall attraction and the world’s fastest roller-coaster, which can reach speeds above 200 kilometres per hour. (MEED 9:11:07)

The roof of the structure is its most physically distinguishable feature. The 200,000 sq m roof is clad in steel and is highly insulated to reduce the heat load on the building. It features the world’s largest Scuderia Ferrari emblem which is 66-metres in diameter.

To build the superstructure of the building, contractors used 35,000 tonnes of concrete, 12,370 tonnes of steel, 29,000 sq m of facade glazing and 165,000 sq m of roof cladding.  

UK-based architect Benoy was contracted in 2005 to design the masterplan for Aldar’s $40bn Yas Island project, which includes a 300,000 sq m shopping mall, Ferrari World theme park and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit race track.

Additional components planned for the 25 square-kilometre island include a water park, a 65,000 sq m business park, a Warner Brothers theme park, 20 hotels, six marinas, a polo club, two golf courses, a hospital and network of medical clinics, police and fire stations, as well as several primary and secondary schools.

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.