Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Supercars, Ferrari
Abu Dhabi to build Ferrari World theme park
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Oil affects everything automotive, but when the guys holding 8% of the world's oil supply begin to look for ways to reduce their dependence on oil, should we be concerned? At least they have the cash to make it fun and not painful.
Yes, a 2,500-acre island belonging to Persian Gulf emirate Abu Dhabi, will host Ferrari World, a "high-tech" theme park featuring simulator rides, roller coasters, an interactive museum anda theatre with an Italian-themed play and a race track, as part of the $40 billion dollar transformation into one of the world's premier luxury tourist destinations.
To the ruling family in Abu Dhabi, al-Nahyan, who owns five percent of Ferrari SpA, building Ferrari World was a natural decision. To support the increase in tourists visiting Yas Island, Abu Dhabi also plans to spend an additional $6.8 billion dollars to expand the Abu Dhabi International Airport, where Etihad Airways, the sheikdom's own airline launched in 2003, calls home.
We can only dream of the chance to visit Yas Island someday. Upon its completion in 2009, might Ferrari use it as the location for future their vehicle launch programs? If so, maybe we'll get invited to come out and play.
[Source: Bloomberg]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jon 8:27PM (11/30/2006)
first post
wow this place looks like it will be amazing. i just hope admission and airline prices wont be through the roof so that most average enthusiasts like me would be able to check it out.
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number40one 8:36PM (11/30/2006)
Will Nermal be there?
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yeahright 9:21PM (11/30/2006)
Just what we need! Another excuse to throw dollars at people who despise democracy, treat women like animals, deny human rights and generally live like it's the 12th century. Have fun, guys.
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Jeff Heritage 6:51PM (8/23/2007)
Well, here we go with another cretin who knows, most likely, little or nothing of the next city block, let alone the Middle East in general or Abu Dhabi in particular. For your information Abu Dhabi and the UAE in particular are referred to, by those of us who have lived there for over 15 years, as the Switzerland of the Middle East. Meaning an wonderful population of men and women who work very hard to provide a wonderful place to live and work, for all races, creeds and gender. Your characterizations are unwarranted and best left unsaid.
Gimpyfuzznut 9:49PM (11/30/2006)
Just because they are Arabs, they hate democracy and treat women like animals? Get your shit straight you racist piece of shit. Have you ever been to the UAE? No, you haven't and naturally like most retarded idiots who make stupid generalizations after watching too much Fox News, you have no fucking idea what you are talking about.
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iQuack 9:52PM (11/30/2006)
I agree with yeahright.
It's hard to be enthusiastic about anything in places run by moneyed dictators who hate us.
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theone 9:56PM (11/30/2006)
Just what we need! Another ignorant Westerner that makes arbitrary generalizations about millions based on few. The populace of the Arabian peninsular, with the exception of those in Yemen, enjoy some of the highest standards of living to be found outside the western world.
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Alex 10:19PM (11/30/2006)
Hey Gimp, maybe you should get your "shit" straight! If you do just a little bit of research (hint, use Google), you will find plenty for proof that the UAE harbors terrorism and funds many of those organizations that support it. If it wasn't for them floating on oil, they would literally be in the 12th century. Because of oil, they are able to build stuff like this. And if you do some more research, you will see that it is not them building things, its other countries. It's amazing what money can do, isn't it?
Go do some research on the Sultan of Brunei. He is/was one of the richest people in the world (over 40 billion net worth at one point). What did he do with is money (gained solely from oil)? He spent it on buying cars, warehouses full of cars. Unlike Gates, who has invested over 25 billion into his foundation, these countries indulge in other useless crap!
Some of these countries ONLY enjoy fine living BECAUSE of the OIL flowing out their ears. Do some research, and you’ll see that the majority of them live in poverty!
So before you resort to name-calling and half-witted remarks, go do some research for yourself...
Alex
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risingsun 10:20PM (11/30/2006)
I just had flashes of Euro Disneyland in my head. This is going to bomb. Hard.
Ferrari "doesn't advertise" so they make up for it with Ferrari stores and now a theme park. Personally, I would never own a piece of Ferrari merchandise unless I OWNED A FERRARI. It's like buying a Playboy brand thong for the girlfriend you don't have.
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theone 10:42PM (11/30/2006)
Alex, I don't understand the point that you are attempting to make. A country whose development is based on the export of commoditities will eventually seek to diversify its economy so as to avoid boom-bust cycles that are triggered by global economic shocks and poor financial planning. BTW, fanciful internet blogs and biased web-sites are not the best avenues to conduct research.
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Gimpyfuzznut 11:02PM (11/30/2006)
There's hardly any proof that UAE supports terrorism which is supported by the fact that majority of Western nations and businesses interact with them and have strong relations. Yes, terrorists do come from UAE but what is your point? More terrorists and murderers come from the United States - does that make blanket generalizations about the US apply? Get your facts straight. You and the other idiot have never been to UAE or probably any where in the Middle East so you really have no clue what the hell you are talking about and CNN or Fox News is not really a source of information.
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Bill Maher is an Idiot 11:23PM (11/30/2006)
Gimpyfuzznut is right. Al-Jazeera is a real source of news info. Now the two of us are going to join our crack whore friends and sing songs about killing Jews, while reading "Sand Jockey Monthly."
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Lee 11:37PM (11/30/2006)
Enzo must be rolling over in his grave.
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Car videos & Motorcycle videos 11:56PM (11/30/2006)
Wow this is a huge risk, not only money but an awesome company reputation
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WRC05 12:16AM (12/01/2006)
Very sick of Americans saying how great America is and other places suck. How fucking annoying!
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live from new york 3:16PM (3/10/2008)
i agree with WRC05. America is like a powerhouse to the rest of the world. the only reason why we havent been touched within the last 50 years is because of the thousands of nuclear warheads and hydrogen bombs we sit on. I, for one, would much rather live in a place where we couldn't be blamed for the end of the world 10 times over. And what makes the middle-east a breeding ground for terrorism? its just as threatening as any other place. now, if they want a theme park, let them have a theme park. don't go ballistic about it like its another nuclear bomb manufacturing plant or whatever. the US has hundreds of parks. other countries can enjoy themselves too. seriously, don't think that we are the high and mighty. we aren't. and no, i don't hate america, incase your wondering.
Alex 1:32AM (12/01/2006)
Where in my post am I making a blanket statement? I never said that all terrorists come from the middle east (majority do though) or from UAE. On the contrary, I respect the UAE more than other middle-eastern nations riddled with totalitarian regimes. And it is better they blow 40 billion on building a theme park than funding al qaeda.
No, it is not true that "more terrorists and murderers come from the United States." That is an interesting statistic though. Let me guess, you got that from a "fanciful internet blog?"
Now, why do you assume that I get my information from random websites and blogs? There are plenty of legitimate news reporting agencies. I get my information from al-jazeera, they are amazingly honest in their reporting...
Oh, quite the opposite, I have been in the middle east. I have family that lives just a few streets away from where rockets fell from our friendly neighborhood hezbollah members. And the last time I visited, a week after I left, a cafe that I passed by was attacked by a suicide bomber.
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ahmed 11:29AM (4/09/2008)
UAE has never been in war or involve in a war, it's been always peaceful place and i wish it stays this way forever. don't mistake Palestine or Iraq with UAE.. it's different culture and different people. I think every war going on now is actually caused by USA weather in Palestine or Iraq. but it's not my business now.. I'm car enthusiasts and I'm happy that we're going to have a good Track and attend Formula 1 every year. and I wish that you visit someday and change your mind about the world out side America. open your mind and spend your money on education rather than weed.
Yoshaq 1:38AM (12/01/2006)
one more place i like to go
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Richard Warren 8:11AM (12/01/2006)
Your comments: And--There are no domestic terrorists in the US? Oklahoma City perhaps? Atlanta? Unabomber? And the US has never supported a corrupt regime that had it's own internal form of terrorisim and we closed our eyes to it?
Terrorism exists everywhere. State sponsored and individual. So does racisim and bigotry.
The UAE is a country that is very progressive and actually is trying to get people from all over the world to live there. I've been there on business and they actually like Americans, they may not like Mr. Bush or some of our policies, but on a person to person basis they like us unless we are the typical ugly American.
Alex, you talk about how money is spent, OK, how do you spend YOUR money? The fact is, it's your money, Gates money,Sultan of Brunei, money. Each can do with it as they please.
The Sultan attends many charity events and yes he contributes. In case you didn't know he actually donated to Katrina relief as well as Tsunami relief. Is he a great guy, of course not and neither is George Bush.
But back to the topic, this is pretty cool. It will be a big success.
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