If any region is going to succeed at bigger, faster, more, it’s the Middle East and not so long ago the plan was for Dubai to not only be home to the world’s greatest collection of iconic buildings, but also more theme parks than Orlando, Florida.

Of the top 10 global theme park groups four have, at some point over the last decade, publically stated intentions to develop parks in the UAE.

The Kipp Report writes: “In Dubai alone—a city of more than 1.2 million people during the pre-boom—there were over 13 theme parks ranging from $400m to $3.5bn planned.”

Then it all went wrong. Despite licences being issued, foundations being dug and arch ways constructed, it wasn’t long before the circus left town.

But that doesn’t mean the party has ended. As IMG Group finalises a deal with Marvel Entertainment to build a 32,516m² theme park at City of Arabia, Dubai, The Big Project rounds up the region’s themed fun offerings; the built, the dreamt and the too crazy to build.

Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

The largest indoor theme park in the world – and home to one of the longest roller coasters, Formula Rossa – if Ferrari World was turned upright it would be the highest man made structure in the world at over 300 storeys. The 86,000sqm park could house seven football pitches with the gross footprint of the plaza alone equivalent to 15 American football fields. More than a theme park, the Yas Island development regularly plays host to corporate and leisure events; has welcomed a number of international performers from Metallica to Madonna; and is also the home of F1 in the UAE.

The second Ferrari World is reportedly planned for Valencia, Spain.

Dubai Land

Official information about Dubai Land is thin on the ground, there are still plenty of record breaking facts and statistics to be found on the troubled development.

Understood to be twice the size of the entire Disney World resort in Florida, Dubai Land is designed on a 278 km² plot comprising a string of mega projects and sub projects, including City of Arabia, Falcon City of Wonders and Mall of Arabia; all of which feature their own collection of ridiculous, weird, wonderful and world record breaking attractions.

In the early days a number of global leisure and entertainment power houses also put their names to the development, including Six Flags, Dreamworks, Merlin and, of course, Marvel who will now go ahead with their comic superhero theme d park, due for completion “by the end of 2013”.

Planning was also granted for Great Dubai Wheel, a big wheel even bigger than the London Eye at 185 metres tall, but this element is also now on hold.

DUBAILAND VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se3fNvsW4LE

Habtoor Land

 

Another asset in the sprawling Habtoor portfolio, this $80m Lebannon-based park is the largest in the country and perched on a hill roughly 15km outside Beirut.

HABTOORLAND VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j7Eo69aS80

Water parks

While no dry-land theme park in the Middle East featured on AECOM’s Theme Index 2011, the UAE’s water parks are among some of the best in the world. In the 2011 index – widely regarded as the only barometer for the theme park industry – Dubai’s Aquaventure holds eighth position and Wild Wadi 13th.

Iceland, Ras Al Khaimah

Developed by WOWRAK, Iceland waterpark is based on the tale of displaced penguins who emigrated to the desert after the ice caps melted (!). With 50 attractions, Ras Al Khaimah’s 120 acre contribution to the world of water parks features the world’s largest man made waterfall and a 6000m² rain dance pool called Penguin Bay, which alone has a 2000 person capacity.

Aquaventure

Based at Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah, Aquaventure is a 42 acre theme park, beach and dive centre also catering to special events.

 

Wild Wadi

Currently missing a jewel in its crown, Wild Wadi’s dedication to thrill saw the park dismantle its 28m Leap of Faith slide earlier in 2012 – the region’s tallest – because it “wasn’t thrilling enough”. Its replacement will open later in 2012.

 

Lost Paradise of Dilmun, Bahrain

With 12 adult rides and 14 children’s slides the Lost Paradise of Dilmun (LPOD) claims to be the only fully themed water park in the region to combine modern technology and innovation with “a preserved sense of Bahrain’s cultural heritage”. According to the developers there is an emphasis on history, architecture and ambience.

 

 

The weirdest projects

Star Trek Theme park, Aqaba, Jordan

Reports in 2011 claimed that Steven Spielberg’s cult film Star Trek was to be honoured with a theme park in Jordan.

Complete with hotels, theatres, dining and shopping, the park would honour Jordan as a “crossroads of civilisation”.

Far from picking the country at random, it was relayed in the reports that the $1.5bn project was back by the country’s King Abdullah II, who is a “well known trekkie”, having made a cameo appearance in a 1995 episode of Star Trek Voyager.

‘The Baghdad Zoo & Entertainment Experience’

A $500m park encompassing Baghdad’s existing zoo, the project is backed by California-based developer, Ride & Show Engineering, and it tipped to be the Disney Land of Iraq. Now on hold.

(Additional theme park information can be found at: http://www.thethemeparkguy.com)