Originally Posted By fkurucz <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/06/news/international/bc.disney.bahrain.reut/index.htm?postversion=2007020608" target="_blank">http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/0 6/news/international/bc.disney.bahrain.reut/index.htm?postversion=2007020608</a> From the article they are talking about 16 sq km of resort. That would be second only to WDW in size, if I am not mistaken.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Would a park there have the ability to draw enough visitors to make it financially feasible?
Originally Posted By RandySavage I hope this is more than just another rumor. Is the Sheik in the article the same one that bailed out Disneyland Paris? If Dubai is any indication, the Arabs will throw tons of cash at this project, resulting in Disneyland Paris/DisneySea level of quality.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Even if it was DLP/TDS quality, who is going to go there? I realize there is some tourism to that region, but enough to support a resort of that size?
Originally Posted By RandySavage Upper and middle class populations from Morocco to Pakistan. Dubai's current tourists come mostly (70%) from the Gulf region, but they are aiming to make it so unique and impressive that it draws more tourism from the Americas, Europe and Asia. I imagine Disney Bahrain would take the same approach. WDC and HK spent $1.7B to buy the land/ready the location and another $1.8B to build the park and hotels. If this guy is pouring in $8B right of the bat, the place may be special enough to entice me to visit from North America.
Originally Posted By RandySavage ^^ Further, these oil Sheiks are so rich (thanks to us) that they will sink money into insane projects (like Burj Dubai, the Palm Islands, Dubailand), sometimes for no other reason than they need another place to park their cash. For example, in Dubai, despite there being no demand for expanding office/hotel space (occupancy doesn't warrant it), they continue to build at breakneck speed. It seems they are banking on the expectation that in the longer term (10-20 years) demand will catch up to supply.
