AED 700 million Edutainment project 'Emirates Planetarium' planned at Dubailand

The project - an education based, entertainment oriented, space theme driven arena will be built on 1.7 Million square feet of land.

Mr. Abdulla Ahmad Bin Turkia Al Falasi, a UAE National, has signed a Project Development Agreement with Dubailand to implement the Emirates Planetarium Project.

The Emirates Planetarium is a multi-complex project comprising a planetarium, which is considered unique within the Middle East, an education and entertainment centre along with other facilities in line with the nature of the project. The project will be implemented in two phases - the Planetarium complex followed by the themed hotels complex. The project will be one of the most modern state of the art Planetariums in the World when it is completed by 2008.

Mr. Abdulla, a Philanthropist, who runs educational institutions, has taken up the challenge of developing the first model of a commercially viable planetarium and related attractions such as astronomically related space simulators, digital space theatre as well as several other attractions in Dubai, which is going to be world renowned for its uniqueness.

The Planetarium multi-complex will include various attractions that would utilise modern physics and state of the art architecture to offer visitors various attractions including a 'universe dome', an advanced laser projection theatre, and a turbo ride which will give the visitors the chance to be astronauts in space ship simulators and travel in the universe with a mission to land on the moon.

In addition to that, the Planetarium will offer other attraction components that would create a complete astrophysical experience to all visitors including:

- Science Museum
- Solar Exhibition
- Future World Exhibition
- Telescope - observatory Tower
- And other astronomical educational facilities

Emirates Planetarium is in the process of tying up with the world leaders in each field in order to provide one of the best attractions for the visitors of Dubai. It will also have tie-ups with top astronomical institutions around the world besides linking them with the educational institutions in the region. The planetarium will have great relevance to the Middle East Region and particularly to Dubai as it develops as a fast emerging knowledge centre.

Mr. Abdulla is also planning to build three hotels in different categories. These would be one of a kind hotels with various themes such as planet floors (named after the 9 planets), zodiacal floors (named after the 12 zodiac signs) and satellite chalets and furnished apartments. There will also be customized mono-rail personal transportation facilities to take visitors to various places of interest of their choice within the complex.

Emirates Planetarium would serve its purpose of awakening the curiosity and talents of the younger generation of the Arab population, and thus would become the stepping stone for future scientists and astronauts from this part of the world, through strategic partners in each area of expertise.