Dubai Parks to open Legoland hotel in Dec, plans to launch new record-breaking rides in 2021

DXB Entertainments, operator of Dubai Parks and Resorts, has confirmed that its Legoland hotel is on track to open in December this year.

The Dubai-listed company, which announced its third quarter results, reported a 97 per cent year-on-year drop in revenues to reach Dhs2m, down from Dhs78m in Q3 2019. However, it reported a 21 per cent improvement in its EBITDA loss to reach Dhs54m during the period.

The theme park complex, which was closed from March until September this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, confirmed that it had seen 602,000 visits in the first nine months, down 67 per cent from the same period last year. Dubai Parks has so far only re-opened its Hollywood themed park, Motiongate.

The implementation of an ‘efficiency programme’ helped the destination cut operating costs by 54 per cent year-on-year between January-September to reach Dhs205m, it said.

Meanwhile DXB Entertainments also confirmed that its enhancement plan is underway, with the destination set to soon open new rides.

It also confirmed that work on its 250-key Legoland hotel is “progressing well” and is on track to open during December 2020. First announced in early 2017, the Legoland hotel is being developed as a joint venture with the UK’s Merlin Entertainment Group.

The hotel is being built on 300,000 square feet of land adjacent to the Legoland Dubai theme park and will feature Lego models in every room, a disco elevator, castle play area and themed rooms.

Dubai Parks currently operates in the Lapita hotel, which had an average occupancy of 37 per cent in the first nine months of this year.

Mohamed Almulla, CEO and managing director, DXB Entertainments, said: “In line with our stated hotel strategy to deliver over 1,300 hotel rooms to the destination, we are getting ready to open the region’s first Legoland Hotel.”

He added: “We are currently in the process of rolling out many exciting surprises with the launch of our new rides and the re-opening of our theme parks. During the closure of operations from March to September 2020, we have focused on the enhancement plan which includes addition of 10 new rides in Bollywood Parks Dubai and two new rides in Motiongate Dubai.”

With the new thrill rides, Motiongate will become the region’s largest theme park by number of rollercoasters, Al Mulla said.

“The expansion to Lionsgate Zone will launch in early 2021 and feature the world’s first theme park ride inspired by the popular John Wick franchise and Now You See Me movie inspired roller coaster. Our destination will have a total of three world record thrill rides by early 2021,” he added.