A garden all set to glow for Dh60 from tomorrow

Dubai - Dubai Garden Glow in Zabeel Park was announced at a literally glowing official opening ceremony.

Dubai Garden Glow, dubbed the world's largest and the region's first unique "glow destination", will open its doors to visitors tomorrow.
And Dh60 is all you need to enter the fairyland that glows in the dark in Area B of Zabeel Park; it was announced at a literally glowing official opening ceremony held late evening on Monday.
Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, inaugurated the ceremony in the presence of Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah, senior officials and members of the media.
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Nasser Lootah said: "The garden, which has four million lights in different colours, will receive visitors till next Ramadan."
Developed by The Retailers Investment for the Dubai Municipality, the Dh30m garden is envisaged to be the leading leisure attraction in Dubai this season.
Themed "Art by Day, Glow by Night," the trees, plants, flowers, ants, animals and all other installations at the garden will illuminate themselves after the sun sets.
Recycled silk fabric is used to give the glowing touch to the art works along with energy saving lights.
Sprawling across 40 acres, the garden will be open to visitors every day from 4pm to 7pm.
An entire street dedicated for offering delicacies from around the world will also open at the garden. The access to Dubai Garden Glow will be only through Gates 6 and 7. The entry is free for children below three years.
Exclusive fee
A spokesperson for the project told Khaleej Times that the ticket price for the glow garden is not inclusive of the Dh5 regular entry fee at other areas in Zabeel Park. That means entry to the garden will not give access to other parts of the park, for which visitors have to use separate gates.
The municipality said it has made necessary arrangements for parking in the garden.
The Dubai Garden Glow is the outcome of 18 months of planning, 200,000 man hours,150 artisans from different parts of the world and a management team overlooking it all.
It has been inspired by wonders across the globe and has created several experiences that will take visitors to Masai Mara wild beast migration to the tulips of Netherlands.
A majestic replica of the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque made up of 90,000 porcelain cups, plates and spoons and a 12m-tall miniature Burj Khalifa recreated with 330,000 small medicine bottles filled with coloured water are installations at the garden that have applied for Guinness World Records.
Apart from a light and water show, the highlights that are specifically of interest to the little ones are African Savanna, Ant Party, Panda Paradise, Sparkling Garden, Rabbit Heart, Ladybirds, Candyland, Water Fairies, Giant Phoenix Vase and an I Light Talking Tree, which is unique with its talking features.
While the municipality expects to attract 5,000 visitors a day to the park, some visitors at Zabeel Park said the high ticket price might leave the fairy land a distant dream for many residents in Dubai.
"The entry fee is quite high for middle income families," said Joy Ivan Saldanah, an Indian resident working with a tourism company.
"They will have to be happy visiting the other side of the same park for Dh5," he added.
Naveen Prakash D'souza, a driving inspector, said that the entry fee looks unaffordable for low income groups and a fee of below Dh50 would have been better.
sajila@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai