Have you ever wanted to stroll down the shadow-drenched, broken concrete of Gotham City's Crime Alley? Do you have fantasies of becoming a reporter for the Daily Planet while hustling through the crowded streets of Metropolis? Would you like the opportunity to excitedly scream "Yabba-dabba-doo!" without all the people around you thinking that you've got rocks in your skull? Well, you're in luck, because it turns out that Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Miral are in the process of building a themed-entertainment destination called World of Abu Dhabi that will permit you to visit the locations I've listed above and more!
Here's a whole bunch of pertinent information from the official press release:
Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of destinations, announced today that Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will feature six immersive worlds: Metropolis and Gotham City, inspired by the universe of DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains; Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, and Dynamite Gulch, themed after iconic animated brands such as Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera; and Warner Bros. Plaza, reminiscent of old Hollywood, where these seminal characters and stories were originally brought to life.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, which is located on Yas Island and set to open in 2018, will be a one-of-a-kind, world-class destination home to state-of-the-art thrill rides, interactive family friendly attractions, and unique live entertainment. From the action and adventure of DC to the wacky and wonderful world of Looney Tunes, this immersive and interactive new indoor experience brings some of the world’s most popular stories and characters under one roof.
Also included in the information packet were some enthusiastic words from Mohamed Abdullah Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral, who said, "Miral is proud to confirm that one year after announcing its plans to bring Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi to Yas island, we’re making great progress with our partners where we’re 60 percent complete and on track to launch in 2018. We’re excited to reveal new details about the six unique immersive worlds at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, which is a key part of our ambition to make Yas Island a top-ten global destination for family fun."
Guests will be swept away in Hollywood-style when they enter Warner Bros. Plaza, a celebration of all that is the Golden Age of Hollywood. Upon entering the park through the Warner Bros. Shield archway, guests will be transported to Hollywood where Art Deco architecture lines the streets and authentic, Tinseltown details evoke the rich history of Warner Bros.
For the first time in the Middle East, Super Hero fans will be able to stroll the streets of Superman’s Metropolis, a modern-styled city of towering skyscrapers, and prowl the dark alleys of Batman’s Gotham City in this larger-than-life land where heroic exploits and action-packed family fun wait around every corner.
The vibrant Cartoon Junction will bring together Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo, and other famous characters under a stylized cartoon sky that will immerse guests in the wonderful world of animation. From the fun and frenetic to the out of this world, Dynamite Gulch will take you to the stars and deep into the canyon. Lastly, guests can explore Bedrock, a prehistoric world powered by birds and dinosaurs, where the modern stone-age family can have a “yabba dabba doo” time like The Flintstones.
“Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will be a state-of-the-art themed experience that authentically brings some of the Studio’s most iconic characters and stories to life under one roof for the first time in the Middle East,” said Pam Lifford, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “We have been closely collaborating with our partners at Miral to faithfully construct immersive worlds that resonate with precise details and are thrilled to share these unique experiences with fans next year.”
Situated on Yas Island, one of the world’s leading business, leisure and entertainment destinations, construction of the park is well underway, surpassing production expectations. The project has engaged 5,500 specialist engineers, workers and craftsmen to build a park that will span 1.65 million square feet. Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will be a fully immersive experience of six worlds comprised of 29 rides, shows, and attractions.
Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, developed in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment will complement Miral’s Yas Island destination portfolio of themed parks. This includes Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, CLYMB, and opening in 2022, the recently announced SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Yas Island also offers a wide range of sporting and entertainment experiences including Yas Marina Circuit, seven hotels, year-round events, a live performance and concert arena, 18-hole championship golf course, marina, beach, and the increasingly popular shopping destination, Yas Mall.
Whoa! Hey there Warner Bros., how about you send me two round trip tickets for the opening of your park in exchange for this lovely write-up, eh? I could even bring a video camera with me and film the experience to share with our readers? Sound cool? Just throw me an email and we'll get that all squared away. Oh please, there's no need to thank me. Just be sure to include a Fast Pass or two. After all, that's the only way to roll.
If the above information isn't enough to get you excited about World of Abu Dhabi, perhaps this batch of hi-res images will do the trick:
Metropolis:
Gotham City:
Cartoon Junction:
Bedrock:
Dynamite Gulch:
Warner Bros. Plaza:
Hot damn! If the finished products for World of Abu Dhabi end up looking as good as these concept designs I'd say this place is going to rake in butt-loads of cash! Obviously, the first section I would visit would be Gotham City. After that, I'd hoof it on down to Bedrock from some Brontosaurus Ribs that I can eat on my way over to Dynamite Gulch. Here's hoping that World of Abu Dhabi opens on schedule and is a tremendous success!
World Abu Dhabi, which is located on Yas Island and set to open in 2018!