Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

24°29′27″N 54°35′58″E / 24.49089°N 54.59936°E / 24.49089; 54.59936Opened25 July 2018; 5 years ago (2018-07-25)OwnerMiral under a license from Warner Bros. Entertainment (Warner Bros. Discovery) miral.aeOperated byMiral Experiences LLC
(Miral LLC)ThemeWarner Bros.Operating seasonYear-roundArea1,650,000 square feet (153,000 m²)^[1]AttractionsTotal29Roller coasters2Websitewww.wbworldabudhabi.com

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is the world's largest indoor theme park in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, owned and developed by Miral at a cost of $1 billion.^[2] The park features characters from Warner Bros.'s franchises, such as Looney Tunes, DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, and others. The park is located on Yas Island near Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and CLYMB Abu Dhabi, and is the third Warner Bros. theme park.^[3] The WB Hotel is the first Warner Bros. themed hotel and is located adjacent to the theme park. The park contains 29 rides, and several shows.^[4]

History

Plans for the park began in 2007, but were halted by the Great Recession. Warner Bros. had signed a development contract with Aldar Properties in that year.^[2][5]

In May 2015, Miral signed the general construction contract with Belgian contractor Six Construct, thus resuming construction that year.^[2] On April 19, 2016, Miral and Warner Bros. announced plans for the park's first phase to open in 2018.^[3]

Miral announced in February 2017 that ride delivery and installation had begun with many of the 29 rides being tested.^[4] On April 25, 2017, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Miral announced that the park was on schedule at 60% completion, and revealed information about its six themed lands.^[1]

On July 24, 2018, the park was inaugurated by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan now the UAE president.^[6]

On November 10, 2022, a Harry Potter themed land was announced to be coming to the park.^[7]

Design

The theme park is indoor and fully air-conditioned, as is typical of most major theme parks in the region due to the extreme heat in the summer. Standing at 1,650,000 square feet (153,000 m²), Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi was named the world’s largest indoor theme park by Guinness World Records in 2019.^[8]

The facade features a 61-metre-tall (200 ft) tower inspired by the iconic Warner Bros. Water Tower in Burbank, California. The theme park was designed by Thinkwell Group.

Layout

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi features six themed lands; Gotham City, Metropolis, Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza. Gotham City and Metropolis are based on the fictional settings of DC Comics superheroes Batman and Superman, respectively, with attractions and live performers featuring costumes based on The New 52's character designs. DC Comics superheroes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, Warner Bros.'s Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera cartoon libraries are represented in Dynamite Gulch and Cartoon Junction, along with Bedrock, which is themed around The Flintstones. Warner Bros. Plaza is meant to mimic the Hollywood of the past.^[9]

Rides^[10]

Bedrock

• The Flintstones Bedrock River Adventure^[11]

Dynamite Gulch

• Fast and Furry-ous
• The Jetsons Cosmic Orbiter
• Marvin the Martian Crater Crashers

Cartoon Junction

• Tom and Jerry: Swiss Cheese Spin
• Scooby-Doo: The Museum of Mysteries
• Cartoon Junction Carousel
• Daffy Jet-Propelled Pogo Stick
• Tweety Wild Wockets
• Ricochet Racin' with Taz
• Ani-Mayhem
• Acme Factory

Gotham City

• Batman: Knight Flight
• Scarecrow Scare Raid
• The Riddler Revolution
• The Joker Funhouse
• Rogues Gallery Games

Metropolis

• Justice League Warworld Attacks
• Green Lantern: Galactic Odyssey
• Superman 360: Battle for Metropolis
• Teen Titans Training Academy

See also

• Warner Bros. Jungle Habitat
• Parque Warner Madrid
• Warner Bros. Movie World
• Movie Park Germany
• Hopi Hari

References