Universal Studios has been around for a long time. Universal Studios Hollywood opened in 1964. Universal Orlando opened in 1990, with Universal Japan opening after Orlando in 2001, and Universal Singapore having the most recent opening date, opening in 2011. But something people don’t know is that Universal was going to expand, and put a theme park in Dubai called, Universal Studios Dubailand. Universal Dubailand would cost over 8 billion dirhams, or $2.2 billion US dollars. Universal Studios Dubailand was announce on April 20, 2007, with a plan that expected to attract 5 million visitors annually. Universal Studios Dubailand was set to open in 2010. The broke ground on July 27, 2008, with plans to still open in 2010.
Little did they know, 2008 would be the worst year to start building a theme park. In 2008, we were going through The Global Financial Crisis. This set Universal Studios Dubailand back, and Universal announced that they would delay construction, and would push the opening date to 2012. Time and Time pass, and no construction started. The only thing the public had was the famous Universal Archway with the Universal Studios Logo on it. Nothing was happening on the construction site. In April of 2011, Universal confirmed that the theme park was still a go. But more time passed and no updates. As of late 2012, there was still nothing on the lot. For a long time, there was no updates, and people still assumed that Universal Studios Dubailand was still a go. Finally, On October 27, 2016, it was announced that Universal Studios Dubailand had been officially scrapped. “While we are always open to opportunities in the region, we’ve stepped away from this specific project,” a media spokesperson at Universal Parks and Resorts in Orlando. Dubai Holding, the local partner in the project, also confirmed the project wasn’t going ahead. “Dubai Holding, the global investment holding company, confirmed today that it is no longer in discussions with Universal Parks & Resorts concerning the development of a theme park in Dubai,” The company said in a statement. Universal Studios Dubailand was an ambitious project. Other theme parks were set to open next to Universal Studios Dubailand, including Legoland, and Six Flags, but those were also cancelled.
Universal Studios Dubailand would have been an amazing theme park with great themed lands! The first land would be themed to Hollywood. The are would be designed to look a lot like Universal Studios Florida’s Hollywood area. It would Feature Mel’s Dinner, and maybe even a Planet Hollywood. The next area would be themed to New York. It would feature heavily themed areas features the Blues Brothers show outside, and the Hooray for Bollywood show inside. The area was also going to feature an undercover air conditioned “Gramercy Park Square”. The next area would be called Surf City. It would be beach themed area for kids. It would feature Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, a sandcastle themed carousel, and Frantic Freeway. It would also feature attractions based on Sesame Street. The next area is Epic Adventures. Epic Adventures would be home to Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, Waterworld show, and a brand-new King Kong dueling roller coaster (RIP Dueling Dragons at Universal’s IOA). The last and Final Area would be known as Legendary Heroes. Legendary Heroes would be the home of another incarnation of the Revenge of the Mummy indoor rollercoaster. It would also be home to a show called Eighth Voyage of Sinbad. It would also include a foam ball play area, and King Tot’s Oasis (a water play area). These areas really did look cool! I wish this happened. I would for sure go!
In conclusion, Universal Studios Dubailand was an ambitious project. They announced the park in 2007, with an opening date of 2010. They broke ground in 2008, and delayed the opening to 2012. In 2011, Universal confirmed that Universal Studios Dubailand was still going to happen. The construction site was silent, and nothing was being built. In 2016, they finally announced that Universal Studios Dubailand was scrapped. Universal Studios Dubailand went through some ups, and lots of downs. People were very excited for Universal Studios Dubailand, but it never came. They even built the famous arches and a visitor center for guests to see. To this day, (11/20/2020) The famous arches are still there! The Universal Studios logo is gone, but the arches are still there. Whose to say that Universal won’t build in Dubai later on. But if they do, it won’t be for a while. Right now, they are focusing on Universal Beijing Resort. Universal Studios Dubailand would’ve been a great theme park if it wasn’t cancelled. At least we have pictures, plans, and the archway! Too bad it was cancelled.
-Jordan Salas, Destination Universal.
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