What’s On has details of a Dhs 1billion boost for Dubai themepark IMG Worlds of Adventure, as well as the announcement of another theme park in Jebel Ali.

Forthcoming Dubai theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure this week came a step closer to reality with a Dhs1bn funding boost that paves the way for a significant expansion of the project.

The hotly-anticipated park will feature four ‘EPIC Zones’: the Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure with animatronic dinosaurs, Cartoon Network, IMG Boulevard and MARVEL, plus a vast range of shops and restaurants. The state-of-the-art attractions, mega-coasters and immersive rides will all be themed around popular cartoon characters and superheroes. Estimates suggest the park will bring ten million tourists to the UAE every year.

Ilyas Galadari and Mustafa Galadari, co-founders of IMG Theme Park, said: “This is a one billion dollar-plus project which is set to be an epic entertainment destination bringing together major global brands such as MARVEL and Cartoon Network under one roof. It is one of the most anticipated developments in the region offering a number of world firsts.”

Arif Usmani, of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), who are responsible for the restructuring, said: “This deal demonstrates ADIB’s capabilities to deliver against the financing needs for a project of this complexity in record time. We are very excited to be part of this ground-breaking project.”

News of the deal coincided with the announcement of a separate theme park project in Jebel Ali. US-based theme park operator Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has partnered with Dubai-based Meraas Leisure and Entertainment to open a new theme park in 2017.

Early plans for the 30million m2 site included one park with a Bollywood theme, plus a park based on water and marine life and a separate childrens’ theme park.

Raed Al Nuaimi, chief leisure and entertainment officer for Meraas Leisure & Entertainment, said: “We are delighted to have a world-leading theme park company and a brand like Six Flags on board. We are confident their presence will perfectly complement our project and further enhance our overall offerings in the leisure and entertainment space.”