Maybe I can now go to Dubai

Bam. Zap. Splat. Kpow! Fans of comic book superheroes Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men will be able to see their favourite characters when a new theme park opens in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates by 2011. The $US1 billion ($A1.24 billion) park, the first of its kind in the region, is being developed by US-based Marvel Entertainment Inc, which licenses the comic book heroes, and UAE-based construction and real estate company Al Ahli Group.

Marvel currently owns a superhero island and rides at Universal Studios' parks in Florida, California and Japan, but the Dubai park will be the company's first full theme park and the largest outside the United States. The park will set a new standard for theme parks worldwide and will include new technology and unparalleled visitor experiences. A Marvel spokesperson said in a statement that the company is interested in the region because Dubai represents one of the world's fastest growing economies. AAG and Marvel have been collaborating for two years on the project. The creative team behind the park will be based in Hollywood, Orlando and Dubai throughout the four-year development process.

Reuters