Real Madrid Resort Island

Real Madrid Resort Island is an upcoming sports and amusement park planned by Real Madrid on Marjan Island, a 50 hectares (120 acres) artificial island near Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.^[1] The project had a projected budget of $US 1 billion.^[2] In September 2013, the project was stopped by the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) due to a lack of funding, as the sheikdom was in the process of restructuring its debts.^[3] In 2022, development of the themed resort was revived, as part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, with a tentative opening date of 2024.^[4]

History

The plan for the project was first announced in March 2012.^[2] The island was supposed to feature sport training facilities, a 10,000-seat stadium facing the sea, an amusement park, yacht club and marina, a 450-room hotel, a Real Madrid museum, and a residential area.^[2][5] The marina and yacht club were planned to be shaped like the Real Madrid crest.^[6]

The project was scheduled to be opened in January 2015.^[7] In June 2013, RAKIA announced that construction plans were indefinitely on hold and that the resort would probably not materialize, as the sheikdom was in the process of restructuring its debts.^[3] In September 2013, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez announced that the project had "fallen through", and that they might pursue building the park in a different location.^[8][9] The land was never purchased, and construction never started. The developer said the club was considering building the development in Abu Dhabi.^[10][11]

In September 2014, Perez confirmed that the club still planned to construct the project in Abu Dhabi stating, "We're getting there. There has never been any economic cost to us. But instead of doing it in a small Emirate, we're trying to do it in a location in Abu Dhabi."^[12] In 2022, development of the themed resort was revived, as part of Dubai Parks and Resorts, with a tentative opening date of 2024.^[13][4][14]

References

1. . Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
2. "Real Madrid To Build $1 Billion Island Resort In UAE". Forbes. March 29, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
3. "Real Madrid's Plans for $1 Billion Resort in the UAE Faces Setbacks". Business of Soccer. September 22, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
4. Bandyopadhyay, Somshankar. "World's first Real Madrid theme park to come up in Dubai". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
5. "Jose Mourinho helps unveil Real Madrid Resort Island in the United Arab Emirates". The Telegraph. March 22, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
6. "Real Madrid to build UAE island resort". CNN. March 30, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
7. "Plans for Real Madrid Resort Island sink as Florentino Perez admits defeat". Metro News. September 20, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
8. ""The Real Madrid Resort Island has fallen through"". Marca. September 19, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
9. Livie, Alex (September 20, 2013). "Real Madrid Resort Island in UAE Falls Through". Bleacher Report.
10. "Real Madrid resort plan may be moved to Abu Dhabi". Arabian Business. Reuters. September 20, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
11. "Real Madrid island resort project may move to Abu Dhabi". Taipei Times. reuters. September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
12. "Florentino Perez confirms plans for Real Madrid theme park in Abu Dhabi". Sport 360. September 21, 2014.
13. "Hala Madrid! | Dubai Parks™ and Resorts". www.dubaiparksandresorts.com. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
14. "Dubai Parks and Resorts ouvrira le premier parc à thème du Real Madrid au monde" [Dubai Parks and Resorts will open the world's first Real Madrid theme park] (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-21.