SeaWorld Entertainment, a Blackstone Group company, is set to develop a first-of-its-kind marine life park outside the US. It will be located in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island.
SeaWorld and the Abu Dhabi government-backed Miral Asset Management said the park would open in 2022. The two companies had been in talks since 2011 about a park in Abu Dhabi.
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SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will expands Miral’s destination portfolio on Yas Island, which is set to double visitor numbers to 48 million by the opening year and complement Miral’s Yas Island portfolio of four themed parks, which includes Ferrari World, Waterworld, and opening in 2018 the recently announced Warner Bros.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will be the first new SeaWorld without orcas, and will integrate up-close animal experiences, mega attractions and a world class aquarium and latest technology in visitor engagement.
#SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will include the United Arab Emirates’ first dedicated 4-R Facility. What is 4-R? Learn more: https://t.co/FhSqmTvUd6 pic.twitter.com/wv8XgYrO1A
— SeaWorld (@SeaWorld) December 13, 2016
The Park will also have a research, animal rescue and rehabilitation center, which will open ahead of the park, and the theme park will focus on educating visitors about ocean conservation, according to today’s announcement.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral said “This announcement reflects the emirate’s ambition to create a sustainable, diversified economy, with tourism as one of its core pillars.”
Mohamed Al Zaabi, chief executive of Miral said: “There is no international standard of rehabilitation for wildlife in the UAE, and that is what SeaWorld is bringing to the game.”
“We are in the very early stages, but we are opening the window to an international company with more than 1, 500 experts who have rescued about 28, 000 animals over 30 years.”
