We've got another addition to Dubailand! Yep, next to Six Flags, DreamWorks Animation, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Marvel Comics, Restless Planet and the world's largest mall Dubai is now getting a LEGOLAND theme park!

The article doesn't specifically mention that it's outdoors, but I bet it is. But won't the LEGO bricks melt? What's the heat rating on a LEGO brick? It gets really warm in Dubai. I know that they don't melt in LEGOLAND California in San Diego, but they do fade like all get out ...

Did you know that, for six months in the year 2000 I worked for LEGO? Yep, I left Disney Animation on July 21 (my brother's birthday) and went to the newly formed LEGO Media Santa Monica. There were five of us in a sub-let two room office in the swanky Water Garden office complex in swanky Santa Monica (well, 26th Street - on the less-swanky end).

We were responsible for the Galidor television show. You've never heard of it. It's probably better that way. It had a character named "Allegra". I'm so surprised we never got sued for that. The other names were worse, though. The main character's last name was "Bluetooth". Oooh, techy. The bad guy was named "Gorm". Ugh. The good guy's super-power was called "glinching". Seriously.

Anyway, here's the article about LEGOLAND:

7Days
Building in Dubai
By Paul McLennan
May 07, 2008

Dubai is to get its very own Legoland - the first such park to be built outside North America and Europe. Scheduled to open at the end of 2011, the three million square-foot theme park will have more than 40 rides, attractions and shows - as well as Lego models of all shapes and sizes. Legoland in Dubai will also offer building brick challenges, rollercoasters, and live music.

Other Legoland parks, based on the famous Lego building bricks, have gone down a storm in Denmark, Germany, the UK and the US. The Dubai version will be built on the three billion square foot Dubailand complex, by Merlin Entertainments and Tatweer. Nick Varney, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, said: “Legoland Parks are well-known throughout the world as the ultimate destination for families with young children.

“Choosing this location for the new park reflects the fact that Dubai is becoming a major holiday destination, not only for the region, but also for visitors worldwide.” Saeed Al Muntafiq, executive chairman of Tatweer, said: “The global reputation of Legoland Parks for interactive rides, shows, attractions and its appeal to families with young children adds further value to Dubailand.”

A 17-foot 9-inch Lego replica of the Burj Dubai was unveiled yesterday to launch Legoland in Dubai. Legoland California’s master model designer Eric Hunter created the miniature version of the world’s tallest building. A team of model builders spent 1,342 hours researching, designing and building the replica, which is made from almost 140,000 Lego bricks.

The model is the first of many of Dubai’s landmarks that will be recreated out of Lego bricks for the new theme park’s ‘Miniland’ attraction.

© Al Sidra Media LLC