Amusement personified

Jumana El Khoury's passion will soon see a state-of-the-art wonderland theme and water park in Dubai

As Dubai gears up for a state-of-theart Wonderland Theme and Water Park, Dr Jumana El Khoury is the brain behind its inception. The dashing and articulate Lebanese lady is full of ideas when it comes to buoying the entertainment industry. She says it is her passion and wants to see a majestic entertainment city right in the heart of Dubai.
The new Wonderland spread over an area of 260,000 square metres will be a unique and first-of-its-kind castle of fun and multi-purpose destination. It will comprise of a theme and water park, four-star hotels, retail outlets, commercial village, marina and waterfront commercial and a sprawling free parking zone. The entertainment village will also house an amphitheatre, which will be open from winter to summer. 
What makes the concept special is that Jumana calls it 'Islamic Tourist', wherein the hotels will be alcohol-free and an aura of family friendliness will be all around. The intention is to attract tourists from Muslim and Arab countries, and all over the countries and make them feel at home while relaxing at the Wonderland parks in Dubai. Moreover, the strategic location where the park is located makes it an apple of the eye, as it is centrally located in Dubai and is easily accessible from airport and Metro for tourists and residents, alike. It is in the vicinity of Creek Park at Al Riyadh Street.
Jumana brings with her more than two decades of management experience in the field of entertainment industry, as she has been working as general manager for Wonderland Theme Parks. She came to Dubai in 1997, and started her career. In 2003, she joined the Wonderland management and was instrumental in giving it a new look. She is also the author of two books in Arabic and English on marketing, and her views on recreation development are sought after. Jumana is now the Chief Executive Officer of Wonderland, and is busy in contemplating a blueprint for a gigantic and worthy Wonderland that is second to none in the world of amusement.
The infrastructure of the existing Wonderland was demolished in 2017, and Jumana is in talks with the Government of Dubai and the Dubai Municipality for vetting her master plan for a theme and water park with all the exclusive luxuries of entertainment. She says the facility will be open in a couple of years, and will house all that a family can expect for healthy entertainment, fun and multi-destination. A number of stakeholders are involved in the process of formalising the layout for constructing the mega entertainment project, which will boast some of the greatest rides and water sport facilities for the first time in the UAE. 
Jumana says entertainment is a trend and is a fashion industry in itself. "Every year the trend undergoes a change, and those associated with the amusement parks and entertainment industry should keep pace with those new realities," she observed, pointing out the New Wonderland will house some of the new trend and water park facilities. "People want value for their time and money, and we will come up to their highest standards of expectations."
The Wonderland CEO says approvals from the UAE competent authorities are in the final stages, and construction is likely to begin early next year, and Jumana expects aroundtwo million tourists at her destination per annum. "It will bea multi-purpose water park with the latest rides in the worldand that too with a new design format for people from everyage group to relax," she remarked.
It will be a 'pay as you go' amusement park, and Jumana says its specific design module and architecture will be a wonder in itself. The CEO, however, has kept the minute details of cost and investment close to her chest, and says that world's reputed architects, investors and who's who in the amusement industry are involved in her ambitious project. She says the Dubai Municipality is one of the major stakeholders and is working on the massive project day and night. The theme park will also boast a Marina on the footsteps of the hotels, and it will surely add new colours to the project.
Jumana, who calls this upcoming amusement park as her 'baby project', says that it will be a cobweb of entertainment, and will give the hospitality industry a shot in the arm.
"Dubai Wonderland Water Park will be a perfect place for tourists and adventurers, and it will soon attain the status of a must-visit sight-seeing place," the CEO enthralled, saying latest solar technology panels will give a boost to ecological standards. She says the premises will also house a cinema and an iconic amphitheatre, with an audience capacity of more than 6,000. She proudly pointed out that Engineer Adnan Saffarini is the architect for the upcoming Dubai Wonderland. It will be a perfect family entertainment centre (FEC) with concert halls and a lot more to relax and cherish.
Jumana, the youngest CEO in the entertainment industry, says it is her passion to keep on studying new trends in the amusement arena, and has duly been recognised by the American-based IAAPA for her leadership and visionary skills. "We plan to have a summer accustomed theme park in Dubai very soon, and it will be in line with the standards of Disneyland.
"With Dubai being the best, we also plan to be the best in the entertainment and hospitality industries," a resolute Wonderland CEO remarked.

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