£50 billion theme park dubbed ‘Middle East’s Disneyland’ is STILL being built 21 years later… it’s no surprise when you see the plans – The Sun

A £50 billion theme park dubbed “Middle East’s Disneyland” is still being built 21 years later.

Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dubailand was envisioned as a theme park like no other.

Dubai launched its own extravagant Disneyland plans in 2003Credit: supplied

But the project location for 'Dubailand' has been next to empty desert land for years — But the project location for ‘Dubailand’ has been next to empty desert land for yearsCredit: Getty

Construction has faced many challenges over the past two decades, including a five-year hiatus between 2008 and 2013Credit: Getty

But while Middle Eastern countries are used to building just about anything they want, building their own Disneyland has proven difficult.

While Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris dominated the Western world, Dubai launched its own plans in 2003 to rival their American and European counterparts.

The 107 square meter project, which cost around £50 billion, would be twice the size of the Walt Disney World Resort and divided into six different zones.

These were called Attraction and Experience World, Sports and Outdoor World, Ecotourism World, Thematic Leisure and Holiday World, Retail and Entertainment World and Downtown.

One of the highlights of Dubailand would be the Sahara Kingdom theme park, located in the Attractions & Experience World.

Covering an area of 4,951,399 square meters, it would combine high-end virtual and physical theme park attractions, a state-of-the-art gaming zone, an IMAX theater and integrated live and virtual entertainment shows.

It would also be composed with a shopping zone, four hotels and residential accommodation.

Yet the construction of Dubailand has been full of challenges over the past twenty years.

The largest of these was a five-year stagnation period following the Dubai financial crisis and the global recession in 2008.

But construction would eventually resume in 2013, albeit at the expense of some projects.

Saudi Arabia is planning the world’s largest theme park with the largest roller coaster

And while the theme park isn’t officially open yet, some parts of it are.

For the past 11 years, visitors have been able to enjoy the Dubai Miracle Garden, which is home to more than 250 million plants.

And since 2016, the IMG Worlds of Adventure has been providing entertainment with three incredible indoor roller coasters.

Yet the two attractions are merely disconnected residential communities in different stages of maturity.

A firm date has yet to be set for the full completion of Dubailand, although current estimates predict that much of it will open before 2025.

However, a quick search on Google Maps will call this into question, as large areas between Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road and the desert remain untouched.

What was meant to be like entering another universe is now like entering undergrowth, with clusters of international branded theme parks and dozens of visitor attractions nowhere to be seen wherever you looked.