Turner Broadcasting owned Cartoon Network Enterprises EMEA (CNE EMEA) has signed an agreement with the Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari (IMG) Group which sees the launch of a dedicated Cartoon Network Zone within IMG Worlds of Adventure; Dubai’s first mega themed entertainment destination. The 1.5 million square foot project will be the world’s largest temperature controlled indoor themed entertainment destination with a capacity to welcome more than 20,000 guests from all over the world every day.
Turner Broadcasting EMEA president Giorgio Stock said in a press release: “The Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group’s multi-million dollar investment in this ground-breaking attraction is a clear demonstration of its confidence in the mass appeal and longevity of Cartoon Network brands across the globe. Developing interactive and immersive brand experiences provides not only kids but their entire family with new and exciting ways to engage with our shows and characters and create indelible memories. These live entertainment experiences coupled with our compelling TV offering, our new and emerging media experiences and our licensed products are the ideal platform to build and sustain the appeal of our properties.”
The new deal sees popular characters from global and award winning hit Cartoon Network shows including: Ben 10, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball and Turner Broadcasting owned Lazy Town brought to life in an immersive world of thrilling rides and entertainment. The Cartoon Network Zone will feature the first ever ‘Ben 10’ 5D cinema and an exciting line up of branded restaurants and retail locations, including the world’s largest ‘Ben 10’ retail store. This offers licensees the opportunity to sell its products to a captive audience in a unique cross category branded environment.
“IMG Worlds of Adventure is the entertainment destination Dubai has been waiting for,” jointly said Ilyas Galadari and Mustafa Galadari, executive co-chairmen of the Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari (IMG) Group. “It is the first leisure destination in the world to bring together global brands with our own original concepts. We expect the brand cachet of IMG Worlds of Adventure to cement Dubai’s position as a complete one-stop international destination for entertainment and leisure.”
Cartoon Network Arabic is one of the leading children’s entertainment channels in the Middle East. Key franchises including The Amazing World of Gumball, Ben 10 Omniverse and Adventure Time. These shows ranked among the top five most watched by Arabic children aged 7-14 in the United Arab Emirates and the channel is amongst the top three free to air kids channels in the Gulf region.
The channel’s popularity extends online, with CartoonNetworkArabic.com the number one dedicated children’s website in the region, experiencing impressive and stable traffic figures, at 1.3 million unique visitors and 40 million page views during 2014.
