![Dubai: Leveraging on theme parks, shopping to drive tourism](https://3dwnh01icn0h133s00sokwo1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Screen-Shot-2017-02-16-at-1.54.23-PM.jpg)
When
I landed in Dubai on a Tuesday in January for my short visit, like many
other Kenyans and Africans visiting the city or emirate in the United
Arab Emirates, I couldn’t wait to see the major architectural landmarks
the country is synonymous for. Top on my mind was the Burj Khalifa, an
830m-tall tower dominating the skyscraper-filled Dubai skyline and the
iconic hotel Burj Al Arab.
Dubai is famous for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture, and a
robust nightlife, but the promise by my hosts this time was to
experience a different Dubai. I landed at DXB at around 4am on a winter
Wednesday morning after a 4-hour flight. Winter here is more or less the
usual Nairobi weather,
I was fortunate to be here during the season. I was part of a 15-strong team of scribes from Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, that is five from each country.
After a one-hour snooze and breakfast at our hotel that was a few
kilometers away, we were on the road to explore. All the while marveling
at the meticulously constructed road infrastructure and architectural
marvels in the city center. Our first stop – Dubai Parks and Resorts,
and here all I did was gawk at all stupendous themes therein.
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My equally stunned African colleagues and I experienced each and
every theme park available inside the integrated leisure and theme park
destination constituting more than 25 million square feet of land. For
the first time in my life, I gathered the guts to try out the
rollercoaster rides -the Madagascar Mad Pursuit at the Motiongate, the
infinity coaster, the fastest madly thrilling coaster you will ever
experience. How a coaster can move from 0 to like 60kph (it felt like
100kph) in seconds as it makes death-defying ups, downs, twists and
turns left my heart in my stomach. Stella – who sat beside me – screamed
her guts out. Most memorable! Ha ha.
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Motiongate is the largest Hollywood-inspired theme park in the Middle
East, comprising of 13 of Hollywood’s most memorable live action and
animated films. The Shrek Village, Smurf Village, Ghostbusters, Puss in
Boots, the Green Hornet are just but a few of the attractions at
Motiongate that has united three of Hollywood’s legendary film studios;
DreamWorks Animation, Columbia Pictures and Lionsgate, to bring
cinematic adventure to life.
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Given it was winter the park was full, the varied faces of the globe
well represented. Time stands still as you experience the expansive
theme park, with a choice of nine movie-themed family restaurants and an
array of quick dining kiosks strategically place as well as official
film licensed merchandise sold in 15 themed retail shops.
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But the journey is not complete without experiencing BOLLYWOOD. Here
my early childhood obsession with Hindu movie stars like Amitabh
Bachchan, Sunil Shetty, Amir Khan and others was reawakened. Walking on
the Bollywood boulevard is almost surreal making one feel like they are
in India. The Mumbai Train restaurant, the cycles, the buses and I got
to dance to Bollywood movie songs in the open outside the Raj Mahal (a
replica of Taj Mahal). Mac Otani the Bollywood dance star – wink wink.
The simulated 3D cinema experience of the Hindu action hero The Krish
was the crème de la crème. I could stay here forever, a great getaway
from the Nairobi hustle and bustle.
At nightfall we strolled through the Market Out of The Box (OTB)
where local online designers and sellers are given the opportunity to
sell their wares in open containers downtown a close to the tallest
structure in world- the iconic Burj Khalifa and the world’s largest
choreographed fountain system set on the 30-acre man-made Burj Khalifa
Lake …. And a bit of shopping at the Dubai Mall to crown the night.