Meet The Flintstones and Batman at Warner Bros’ £750m indoor theme park in Abu Dhabi
THE Flintstones and Batman have a flashy new home – and it is right in the middle of the Arabian desert.
Forget grimy Gotham City — the DC superheroes can now be found at the world’s first Warner Bros indoor theme park in Abu Dhabi.
And I’m one of the first to try out the £750million playground in the Middle East sandbox.
The weather outside in Abu Dhabi in July may be a sweltering 40C, but the entire shebang — all 1.65million square feet of it — is undercover and blissfully air-conditioned. There are 29 attractions at the shiny new park, which is aiming to help establish Abu Dhabi as an “it” family-friendly destination. And with the thrills-a-minute Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, the Yas Mall and the home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — the Yas Circuit — a short drive down the road, there is something for all ages nearby.
Located in the Yas Island area, six immersive sections bring DC heroes like Wonder Woman to life under the same roof as Bugs Bunny, the Flintstones and Tom and Jerry.
Each “land”, including Gotham City, Bedrock and Metropolis, flows from a central plaza.
And you can easily walk from one zone to another in a circular route around the outside, seamlessly wandering from the dark The Joker’s Funhouse to the colourful kid-friendly cartoon section within minutes.
It’s not just the rides that steal the show, with no detail spared when it comes to the design of each world.
I satisfied my inner child sitting in the Flintstones’ car and seeing the Scooby Doo iconic Mystery Machine up close, before browsing for superhero gifts in the shops. There are fun small details to spot too. Look out for the headless gargoyle on the outside of the Hall of Doom dining experience.
If you turn around it’s been “nabbed” for the pawn shop opposite and lies in the window.
You could easily spend the day at the park, and without painful queues in the heat, you won’t find yourself flagging.
Go: Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
GETTING THERE: Flights from London to Abu Dhabi are from £618pp return with Etihad. See .
STAYING THERE: One night’s B&B at Yas Island Rotana is from £74pp based on two adults sharing, including entrance to either Warner Bros World, Ferrari World or Yas Waterworld. See .
OUT & ABOUT: Day tickets to Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi are from £61 per adult and £48 per child. See .
That being said, time-poor holidaymakers can nip around the action faster than Superman with the added Flash Pass fast-track ticket option available to buy for £31.
From bigger rides like Scarecrow Scare Raid and my personal favourite, the Riddler Revolution, to guests grabbing a gun and shooting targets in Anti-Mayhem, there is something to keep all ages entertained. It opened its doors on Wednesday after a dazzling party the night before at which United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum himself partied alongside the likes of Bugs Bunny and Barney Rubble.
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Around ten minutes from the airport and 40 minutes from Dubai, it’s sure to attract those looking for some fun out of the sun.
The park is also close to plenty of fantastic hotels. I stayed at the conveniently located Yas Island Rotana, a family-friendly 4* spot with a huge pool and incredible service.
With cartoon characters that will evoke nostalgia for the adults, brought to life in exhilarating worlds that will enthral the whole family, Abu Dhabi definitely offers something special for kids and “big kids” too.