The world’s largest indoor theme park, featuring popular Marvel and Cartoon Network-branded rides, opened its doors to the public in the Middle East’s tourist hub of Dubai- the latest in a myriad of new attractions.

• >>The first visitors at the 1.5 million square foot (140,000 square meters) -park reflected the diverse crowds that visit and live in Dubai, home to the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Middle East’s largest mall and a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree that is dotted with luxury hotels.

• >>Saudi women dressed in abayas, the traditional loose black robes, and the full face-veil, rode alongside tank-top wearing British tourists and Indian families on the park’s roller coasters and attractions.

• >>The adventure park is one of two major theme parks opening this year in Dubai, part of an effort to attract 20 million tourists annually by 2020, when the emirate is to host the World Expo. Last year, some 14 million people visited Dubai, according to the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

• >>The park is as big as 28 football fields, measuring some 1.5 million square feet in size.

• >>Dubai is already home to the world’s tallest buildings, biggest shopping malls and largest man-made islands.

Dubai

Capital: Abu dhabi

Vice President : Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Prime Minister: Muḥammad bin Rāshid al Maktūm