The Middle East’s long-awaited multi-billion-dollar theme park destination Dubai Parks and Resorts opened to the public for the first time today (31 October).

The retail and dining area, Riverland, and Legoland Dubai are the first zones to welcome visitors. Dubai Parks and Resorts announced earlier this month that the destination would not fully open on 31 October as previously planned, but would open in stages.

“I’m immensely proud that today we start to welcome guests to ‘Experience Amazing’ at this incredible new destination,” said Raed Kajoor al Nuaimi, CEO of DXB Entertainments, the owner of Dubai Parks and Resorts. “Riverland Dubai and Legoland Dubai will be unveiled for the very first time and offer unique experiences and entertainments that I genuinely believe will set the bar in this region.”

Legoland Dubai features 40 interactive rides, shows, attractions, building experiences and 15,000 Lego structures made from over 60 million LEGO bricks. Areas include Lego City, a medieval Kingdoms zone, an Imagination area for younger children and an Adventure zone.

Other areas of the multi-park resort were re-scheduled, with Bollywood Parks and Legoland’s waterpark opening on 15 November, and then Motiongate Dubai on 16 December.

“Nothing of this magnitude has ever been done before and after three years of hard work it is a great honour to start to show our guests what we have achieved,” said Al Nuaimi. “As the largest entertainment destination in the region, Dubai Parks and Resorts will support the UAE’s tourism vision and grow the family leisure industry in the region.”

The unique destination, which will later gain a fourth park under the Six Flags umbrella, will be at the heart of what has been dubbed ‘Orlando 2.0’, with other major developments including a Fox theme park to open in 2018 and IMG Worlds of Adventure, which opened on 31 August.