Nakheel's Discovery theme park faces delay

Dubai: Nakheel has delayed construction on its Worlds of Discovery theme park by 12 months as it scales back further on plans due to the global financial situation, the developer said in a statement.

Nakheel partnered with Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC), operator of seaworld adventure parks in Florida, USA, last year.

The first phase of the theme park, comprising Seaworld and Aquatica, was scheduled to open in December 2012. The second phase - Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove - was to open in 2015.

Seaworld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove will together form a killer-whale-shaped island called The Crown, a 380-acre development at the top of Palm Jebel Ali.

The new completion date will be announced later.

"While design work and site preparation on the crown of Palm Jebel Ali has been delayed for 12 months, BEC and Nakheel remain committed to the Worlds of Discovery Dubai partnership and will announce a new completion target date in due time," Nakheel said.

Busch Gardens will predominantly have African animals, while Seaworld and Discovery Cove will house dolphins and other marine life. The island was set to be linked to Palm Jebel Ali by a tunnel on the western side and a bridge on the eastern side, Marwan Al Qamzi, managing director of the Palm Jebel Ali, told Gulf News last year.

On completion, The Crown will have 3,000 to 4,000 rooms in various hotels, Al Qamzi said.

This is the latest in a line of Nakheel developments to be postponed, as the unwelcoming world economic climate freezes developers.

Earlier this year, the developer announced that the Nakheel Harbour and Tower project, its highlight being the kilometre tall tower, is on hold for 12 months, as is their Dh4 billion Trump International Hotel and Tower on Palm Jumeirah.

Dredging work has also been put on hold on their third palm development, Palm Deira.