Disney in Dubai?

[mcheiss]

So, does anybody think that Dubai will ever attract a Disney Theme Park?

It is centrally located in the Middle East and is an excellent stoping point between Asia and Europe. Plus with all the new commerce and tourism opportunties, it seems like a given yes.

I say that yes, Dubai will eventually get a Disney Park, it just may take some time.

[malec]

Well, with Dubailand I don't think Disney would see themselves making the most profit there

[mcheiss]

Well, with Dubailand I don't think Disney would see themselves making the most profit there

That's true.

But Dubai is suppose to pass the 15 Million tourist mark within 10 or so years from what I've heard. Plus you've got all the locals and such.

[NCB]

I say yes.

Disney is expanding to the major cities of regions/countries all over the world. And with the tourism that Dubai is likely to see within a decade,(from what I have seen on the internet) I just can't see that Dubai will be passed up.

Though I agree that Disney would most likely have some serious competition in town with Dubailand.

[mcheiss]

^Kind of like Universal Studios and Disney in Orlando.

I admit the Dubailand would be tough competition, but I think it could happen.

[Mith242]

I voted yes although maybe I should have reconsidered. I think they will end up somewhere in that area. I'm pretty sure they don't have anything in that area of the world. Dubai does make the most sense although as everyone has said competition could be tough. But I think they'd have to be crazy to ignore this area.

[masons_dad1]

I thought I'd crawl out of the boonies and check out the Dubai forum. I guess I'm the only one who voted no to Disney in Dubai. Disney wouldn't want to be the second biggest theme park in the region and they sure wouldn't be able to go dollar for dollar against Dubailand. If anything they could consider setting up a Disney Store in Dubailand. As for the rest they'll leave it to the best... Dubailand.

[mcheiss]

I just think it's too good of a market to pass up. May'be Abu Dhabi or even Doha could attract one. The odds are that as the Mid-East becomes more advanced, so will it's needs for tourism. I think the Mid-East is one of the last good markets for Disney to come in on, and Dubai is centralized in the Mid-East.

[goodbye]

It is inevitable. Disney's name is global and they won't pass up the opportunity to make money in such a heavy tourism market. I can't imagine how much they'll have to spend to compete though.

[mcheiss]

I agree with you. Dubai's Hotels are making more of a profit, than any other city in the world per capita right now.

BTW, I like how you included that link in your sig. of Burj Dubai.

[masons_dad1]

Disney's international market includes Tokyo, Hong Kong and Paris. According to Disney there are no indications that the Middle East is even being considered for a Disney Theme Park.

"Disney sent scouts to Australia in January 2005 to survey a new site. A likely site is just outside of Sydney (Rumored to be located on the site of the failed Wonderland Park). Scouts are also looking for a suitable site for a Disney resort on mainland China, possibly near Shanghai. Disney announced in July that there would be no new resort on the Chinese mainland before 2010, but a site has been allocated and is three times the size of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, or roughly the size of Disneyland Resort Paris.

With the capitol that's going to be invested in the future theme parks that Disney has announced I seriously doubt they would even toy with the idea of a share of the Middle East market. It would just be too costly to compete.

[mcheiss]

^With a population of 900 Million+ growing extremly fast, it seems like it's inevitable. It may not be in Dubai, but it will happen some day in the Middle East. Not to mention the fact that the Mid East has about the fastest growing tourist network next to Asia in the world.

[masons_dad1]

^With a population of 900 Million+ growing extremly fast, it seems like it's inevitable. It may not be in Dubai, but it will happen some day in the Middle East. Not to mention the fact that the Mid East has about the fastest growing tourist network next to Asia in the world.

Well there is the little known fact that 10% of Disneyland Resort Paris is owned by Saudi Prince Alwaleed.

[theSuburbs]

Since Dubai's main source of economy will be Tourism in a few years, I can see a Disney park there very soon.

[shardoon]

i dont think disney will compete with dubailand and dubailand will not compete with disney.

disney is an international family oriented brand. every kid knows mickey.

[malec]

Dubai: The Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chief has ruled out launching a Disneyland here in Dubai for the time being.

James Rasulo says the company is keeping an eye on Dubai's tourism growth.

"I'm happy with what's happening here and if there isn't any Disney resort and I mean anywhere in the world, not just Dubai it's because the timing, evolution and opportunity haven't arrived. The Middle East's tourism industry is in its early days and it will probably continue to grow but we have not looked at Dubai as a destination aggressively seeking development," he says.

Rasulo said that he did not think that projects such as Dubailand were any direct threat to Disneyland or any other resorts in their portfolio.

"Family tourism in general is not very popular. Most tourism targets adults and focuses on luxury and shopping. So if Dubai as a destination can become popular among families as a place to holiday then it will be an overall increase for family tourism, which would in turn benefit us," he says.

On hearing about the ambitious Lost World project, Rasulo says that he did plan to look into it further and that he was interested in it.

"I like family experiences that include fantasy and that's what we specialise in doing well. If someone goes to the Lost World and says they loved it then they're going to want to go to more places that offer such an experience and we would be a logical choice."

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has five theme park resorts around the world and the most recent one was opened in Hong Kong. "That was the result of many years of studying and waiting. We watched market trends and the infrastructure and it finally came through as a result of many factors including complicated development deals," he says.

Rasulo is of the opinion that Dubai's successful advertising campaigns in Europe that began five years ago have resulted in more than one-third of its tourists coming from Europe. But they need to go beyond the Atlantic. "At the moment there's very little about Dubai in America and there needs to be more branding out there," he says.

[urbanbna]

eventually i think disney would venture into dubai, only if dubailand doesnt do so hot, how could you compete with the ammeneties of that mamoth project

[mcheiss]

I've changed my mind on this.

Since the Al Bawadi project is being built in Dubai, I don't think there will be enough market space in the future. Al Bawadi is going to ruin Dubai and turn it into another cheesy tourist trap in the world.

[tamias6]

With monster sized developments bigger than the DT area of my home town being built in Dubai, anything is possible over there. So I'm voting yes on Disney.

[mcheiss]

With monster sized developments bigger than the DT area of my home town being built in Dubai, anything is possible over there. So I'm voting yes on Disney.

[egrguy]

I voted yes. I feel that with the current pace that Dubai is on, that within the next 20 years that it could be an international tourist destination, if not an international city itself.

[mcheiss]

This thread should really be that is it possible somewhere in the Middle East a Disney park will be built. Possibily Doha or Bahrain could play host to a Disney Park, but Dubai is starting to get a bit overbuilt with theme parks. Dubailand will be twice the size of the entire Walt Disney World complex and Al Bawadi will be the world's largest tourist destination with the world's largest hotel at 6,500 rooms (Asia Asia). It's (Dubai) is already becoming the Orlando of the Mid-East. Disney wouldn't have enough room in the current Dubai market, even with the explosive growth.

[mcheiss]

Well instead of Disney, we got Universal Studios. I don't think it's been announced on UP but it will be in Dubailand. From what I can dig up it will have rides based on the movies King Kong, Beetlejuice, The Mummy, and Jurassic Park.