Podcast

Abu Dhabi to woo tourists with 'Ferrari' theme park

Updated: 2010-07-22 12:03

 

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A year after its first Formula One race, Abu Dhabi hopes to lure even more tourists with "Ferrari World" - a grandiose theme park that is the first of its kind for the iconic Italian carmaker.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi announced on Monday that the park will open in 100 days, featuring a record-breaking roller coaster ride meant to emulate the feeling of being in a Ferrari F1 car.

Sitting next to the futuristic Yas Marina circuit, which hosted Abu Dhabi's inaugural Grand Prix race in November 2009, the sprawling complex will be the world's largest indoor theme park.

Due to open on Oct 28, little more than two weeks before this year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it will be housed under a massive triangular red roof on the $40-billion Yas Island development.

"It is an indoor thing with an outdoor feeling," says Claus Frimand, the general manager of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital, hopes the park will help to draw tourists from around the globe along with several other ambitious projects, including state-of-the-art branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums.

Ferrari World spreads over 86,000 square meters, while the red roof bearing the world's largest logo of Ferrari's prancing horse stretches over 200,000 square meters.

Among its 20 attractions are two roller coasters, including the F1-themed Formula Rossa, which is set to be the fastest ever, reaching a top speed of 240 kilometers per hour.

The second roller coaster, which stretches beyond the building's perimeter, features two tracks with Ferrari-shaped trains.

A large replica of the Maranello factory demonstrates the manufacturing process from the design stage to the finished product.

Motoring enthusiasts will even be able to experience the inside of a Ferrari V12 engine, on another ride.

Abu Dhabi hopes such features will boost tourism in the desert emirate.

Questions:

1. When will Ferrari World Abu Dhabi open?

2. What’s special about it?

3. What else is planned for tourism in Abu Dhabi?

Answers:

1. It’s due to open on Oct 28, a few weeks before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

2. It will be housed under a massive triangular red roof on the $40-billion Yas Island development and feature a roller coaster ride meant to emulate the feeling of being in a Ferrari F1 car. The sprawling complex will be the world's largest indoor theme park.

3. Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital, hopes to draw tourists with several other ambitious projects, including state-of-the-art branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums.

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（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is fluent in Korean and has a 2-year-old son.