Dubai Parks and Resorts expansion
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Article about a new Dubai budget hotel brand that reveals a little bit about the status of the Meraas theme parks planned for Jebel Ali.

Announcing the new hotel development strategy, Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said that the new hotels would be stylishly designed by Emaar to create a new hotel experience that will be highlighted by affordable elegance.

Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman of Meraas Holding, said: "Dubai is focused on further strengthening its tourism sector, a key contributor to our economy. “Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, as the city embarks on it ambitious tourism growth strategy, it is important to boost the hospitality sector with more affordable hotels to attract even larger numbers of tourists. “We will develop affordable hotels with Emaar, under the new brand, to catalyse the city's hospitality sector."

He explained that another key driver for the affordable hotel segment is the ongoing plans to develop a number of world-class theme parks in the city. “Theme parks traditionally attract short-haul leisure seekers that come in family groups, and the central location of Emaar’s Dubai Inn hotels, in close proximity to these leisure attractions will appeal to the visitors.”

Source:
http://www.emirates247.com/news/new-hotel-brand-launched-in-dubai-dubai-inn-from-emaar-meraas-2013-06-29-1.512443

Meraas has also launched Motion Gate, featuring a movie-based theme park, a Bollywood-themed park and a Legoland theme park that will be located within its master-development in Jebel Ali. It is part of a three-phase project spread across 30 million sq ft.

Source:
http://www.gulfbase.com/news/meraas-holding-and-emaar-in-jv-to-develop-first-phase-of-mbr-city/238409

Was cruising around the area but unable to find anything

UAE government newspaper Gulf News writes:

Theme park companies in talks over mega entertainment projects in Dubai. Companies take careful approach but say projects more realistic now

“We are in communication with some major developers that works with the government. Dubai Adventure Studios, developed by Meraas Holding, approached us through their consultants. We hope to provide a major section of the ride mix,” Yasser Goneid, general manager of Zamperla Middle East, told Gulf News

Source:
http://gulfnews.com/business/retail/theme-park-companies-in-talks-over-mega-entertainment-projects-in-dubai-1.1174293

Part of it will be a Bollywood theme park!

Film industry insiders reveal their Dubai Bollywood park wishlist

Last week 7DAYS revealed that hotshot producer Ritesh Sidhwani has reportedly been chosen as one of the brand ambassadors for the Dhs10 billion movie-based theme park, which will be located in Jebel Ali.

Meraas Holding, which is developing the facility, would not confirm his involvement in the Bollywood section of the attraction - which will host five movie-themed parks.

http://www.7daysindubai.com/Film-industry-insiders-reveal-Dubai-Bollywood/story-18374501-detail/story.html

I think the location on this map is incorrect. It's placed in an area between Al Quoz 3 and Arabian Ranches and that's far from Jebel Ali!

Here is the layout of the theme park zone:


Source:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationgeneral/2012/November/nationgeneral_November429.xml&section=nationgeneral

I can spot three, maximum four theme parks on it. One with lots of water (on the left), a major outdoor park in the middle and an indoor/outdoor combo park on the right.

Just contemplating... Meraas is a government-owned holding company, right? So was Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding. Tatweer at some point simply disappeared together with all its liabilities. Now there is Meraas stepping in, announcing a theme park cluster for Dubai once again... The guys behind Meraas = the guys behind Tatweer with a new 'clean' entity?

Happy to be corrected and rebuked if I'm wrong!

Announced over a year ago, Dubai Adventure Studios will be part of the Meraas theme park development.