The destination will be home to 15,860 trees, 6,100 palms and 1.4 million shrubs and groundcover, nurtured in an on-site nursery
14 two – three hundred year-old olive trees have been imported from Italy
Dubai Parks and Resorts mission to bring lush vegetation to its desert destination is now well under way with the acquisition of 15,860 trees, 6,100 palms and over 1.4 million shrubs and groundcovers*. Planting has already begun at the region’s largest integrated theme-park destination in preparation for its opening in October 2016, with an on-site nursery also established to house and nurture the remaining greenery.
A wide variety of plants will be found throughout the grounds of Dubai Parks and Resorts to ensure that visitors feel welcomed and rejuvenated by their natural surroundings. More than 376 different plant species have been sourced locally, as well as from Spain, Italy, Thailand, India and China to enhance the three theme parks and adjoining properties: motiongate™ Dubai, Bollywood Parks™ Dubai, LEGOLAND® Dubai together with LEGOLAND® Water Park. These will all be connected by Riverland™ Dubai, the retail, dining and entertainment gateway to the resort. The destination will also feature the Lapita™ Hotel, a Polynesian-themed resort catering to families.
So far, over 350 Washingtonia palms have been planted with over 3,650 being tended to in the nursery. In addition, different sizes of the red flowering Delonix tree can be found throughout the grounds, with heights ranging from nearly 1.8 meters to an impressive 8 metres.
Dubai Parks and Resorts has committed to picking unique items to ensure a truly immersive experience. One example of this is a remarkable collection of 14 eight meter tall olive trees ranging between the ages of 200 and 300 years that have been imported from Italy. Sourced from various plantations in Tuscany as well as the South of Italy, the oldest three are believed to be over 300 years old. Abandoned due to their age and lack of producing olives, they will find their new home at motiongate™ Dubai.
Paul La France, Chief Projects Officer for Dubai Parks and Resorts said, “We are very pleased to see that Dubai Parks and Resorts’ landscape is taking shape as the plants begin to arrive. Our staff have been working relentlessly to create a beautiful and welcoming environment where all guests can take in the striking sights, immerse themselves in the unique settings and have an altogether unforgettable experience.”
The nursery, which is part of the back of house operations, is almost two million square feet and has the capacity to house over 15,000 trees and palms and more than 900,000 shrubs and groundcovers as the project progresses. The nursery also has four greenhouses with a capacity of more than 100,000 pots each.
The nursery also has an administration and central command area where inventory and operations are monitored. This area also includes four greenhouses for plant propagation, three storage tanks for irrigation, six shade areas, two hot houses, numerous open growing and holding areas, and much more. To minimise the level of waste, there is a composting area to make the best use of natural resources.
Dubai Parks and Resorts also has an onsite water treatment plant which it expects to provide up to 30% of the treated water needs for the resort once open. The plant means that waste water can be efficiently treated on-site and reused for landscaping; it is just one part of Dubai Parks and Resorts’ sustainability policy to ensure reduced water usage, and a part of its commitment to protecting the environment.
*All imports are aligned with local regulations.
Dubai Parks and Resorts PJSC (DFM: DUBAIPARKS), will become the Middle East’s largest multi-themed leisure and entertainment destination comprising three separate theme parks: motiongate™ Dubai, a Hollywood movie inspired theme park concept; LEGOLAND® Dubai, the first LEGOLAND theme park in the Middle East; and Bollywood Parks™ Dubai, a first-of-its-kind entertainment destination that will showcase the authentic Bollywood movie experience. In addition LEGOLAND® Water Park, the region’s first water park catering to families with children 2-12 will also open on the site.
The destination will also host the Lapita™ Hotel, a Polynesian-themed hotel which will be managed by the Marriott Group, and Riverland™ Dubai, a centrally located district of 220,000 square feet of leasable retail, dining and entertainment space connecting the three theme parks, water park and hotel.
Set to open in October 2016, the large-scale AED 10.5 billion project is spread across 25 million square feet of land strategically located on Sheikh Zayed Road close to the Palm Jebel Ali between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 6.7 million ticketed visits are expected in 2017, the first full year of operation.
For further information please contact: Sameh Hamtini / Sarah Jackson ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Email: [email protected] / [email protected] T: +971 4 4507600
