Hollywood Comes to Dubai

Come 2010, Dubai will operate its own Universal Studios theme park, thanks to an agreement between NBC Universal Inc., and Tatweer, a United Arab Emirates developer. The Los Angeles Times reports that the $2.2 billion project will be the center of Dubailand, a $64 billion tourism destination also in development by Tatweer. Tatweer will finance the building of the theme park, with Universal designing the attractions, which the paper says will be similar to existing rides at its Orlando and Hollywood parks. Dubai has quickly become famous for over-the-top luxury and the paper notes that Universal City Dubailand also will follow that blueprint, covering roughly 7 million square feet and offering about 4,000 luxury hotel rooms and 100 restaurants.