Doha Festival City (DHFC) will open four of its 'much-anticipated' theme parks this year, bringing 'a number of firsts' to Qatar and providing its residents with 'unique and fun-filled entertainment offerings'.
DHFC’s asset management director Sam Hosn told Gulf Times that Angry Birds World, a 'first-of-its-kind' facility in the Middle East, is scheduled to welcome mall-goers in the first quarter of 2018.
A combination of indoor and outdoor park, Angry Birds World will feature more than 35 rides spread over a 12,000sqm area. It is based on the iconic Angry Birds game and movie.
Next to open is Virtuocity, created exclusively for teenagers and adults. The park will deliver an immersive digital experience, followed by Snow Dunes, Qatar’s first indoor snow park, featuring a 'cutting-edge snow-making system'.
Juniverse, an ‘edutainment’ park for children that harnesses the power of dynamic learning, will also open soon. It features a 'fully immersive futuristic environment' with more than 45 roleplay activities and rides on a 6,000sqm area.
“Once complete, we will be home to a world-class entertainment complex and indoor and outdoor attractions unique to Qatar,” Hosn said.
The four theme parks are expected to attract a large number of domestic and foreign visitors, helping put Qatar on the map in terms of the variety of retail and entertainment 'not seen anywhere in the Gulf region'.
DHFC opened its 4.5km ‘Outdoor Leisure Trail’ in October last year, providing families and fitness lovers with a 'unique track' for walking, running, and biking activities.
“This comprehensive mix of entertainment – from Qatar’s first VOX 4D cinema complex with 18 digital screens to outdoor spaces for exercise and cycling is designed to appeal to all ages, will complement the new theme parks,” Hosn noted.
About dealing with some of the challenges, including the ongoing blockade on Qatar, he stressed that DHFC will continue to focus on its holistic leisure, retail and entertainment offering, citing the soon-to-open theme parks and the upcoming launch of Harvey Nichols, a leading luxury retailer.
“We must work creatively within any limitations in which to achieve that – for example we were recently able to bring the first-ever Grazia Live to Qatar – an experience never seen before in this country,” the DHFC official said.
“As part of the journey towards mall completion next year, we are still bringing new outlets to the mall every month as well as hosting exciting experiences for our visitors to enjoy,” he added.
