$60B Theme Park Was Supposed to Rival Disneyland, 20 Years Later It’s Deserted

But one project in Dubai may be one of the slowest-moving and most expensive construction endeavors of all time. At a price tag of $64 billion, the Dubailand theme park has been under construction for more than 20 years and is nowhere near completed.

The original budget was set at an almost unbelievable $64 billion, and that included the construction of a Sahara Kingdom theme park, an Attractions and Experience World, an IMAX theater, a Sports and Outdoor World, a retail complex, hotels, and even residences for staff.

So, it’s safe to say that Dubailand was not just supposed to rival Disney World but was actually meant to be bigger, better, and, consequently, far more expensive.

Construction completely stopped in 2008, and for five long years, not a single brick was laid. During that time, Dubai Holding was desperately trying to meet with several entertainment companies about investments and partnerships to get things up and running again, and there were rumors that the plan was working.

However, the negotiations fizzled, and no partnerships or investments were ever finalized. Fortunately, by 2013, Dubai Holding was able to start construction again, but eleven years later, the park is still being built.

The doors opened to this 775,000-square-foot garden on February 13, 2013, boasting an awe-inspiring 250 million plants and 50 million flowers.

With several roller coasters, playgrounds, theaters, educational attractions, arcade games, and much more, the park is truly an amazing one-of-a-kind experience for any kid or kid at heart.

An 18-hole golf course designed by Tiger Woods and funded by the Trump Organization, The Trump World Golf Club is one of the most luxurious courses on the planet.

When Dubai Holding released the plan for the park in 2003, there were very few other theme parks in the city. But over the past two decades, several have been planned, designed, and fully constructed, including Dubai Parks and Resorts.

Since opening in 2016, Dubai Parks and Resorts has become one of the most popular theme parks in the Middle East. In fact, more than 15 million people visited during the first six months of 2023. Some wonder if Dubailand (if it ever opens) will be able to compete with such a beloved park.

However, when trying to find the park on Google Maps, there still appears to be much more desert than there are roller coasters.

It’s too soon to say whether Dubailand will become just another half-completed theme park, but if it is, it will likely be one of the biggest and most sensational parks on the planet.