The World’s First Ferrari Theme Park

You would be forgiven for thinking that this is a space ship of some kind when viewing it from the top. It certainly looks like one. It’s probably the most futuristic building (if one could call it that) that I have ever seen.

However, upon closer inspection even from the air, you would notice an all too familiar logo on the structure’s roof. Yep, that is none other than the Ferrari logo. So have Ferrari now jumped on the band-wagon and joined the space race afterall? Actually, no, this is not the case.

What they have done however, is build what is apparently the world’s very first Ferrari Theme park. Yes, Abu Dhabi in the Middle East is now the home of the world’s first and most elaborate Ferrari Theme park. And, considering the amount of money that has been poured into the oil rich nations of the middle east over the past decade in an effort to establish tourist destinations for when the oil eventually dries up, this theme park is certainly one of a kind in the world.

The figures are quite impressive – the park covers an area roughly the size of 7 football stadiums. Yes,seven football stadiums. And if the structure is not impressive enough from the outside, tucked underneath the roof is the world’s fastest roller coaster. (We could not have expected anything less now, could we? This is afterall Ferrari we’re talking about.)

The roller coaster, called Formula Rossa, is a heart pounding, 150 mph (240 Km/h) adrenalin rush, designed to exert the same G-force a real Formula 1 driver would experience during a race. The park does however also cater for kids.

The park has over 20 different attractions, and also caters for kids.

The G-Force allows you to strap yourself in and be launched over 60 meters into the sky, this designed to give you a sense of what the G-force of an accelerating F1 racecar feels like.

The V12 ride gives you a glimpse into the heart of a V12 Ferrari 599 engine. You literally move through the engine with this ride, to see what goes on in the heart of the V12 engine.

The Scuderia-challenge is designed to simulate driving conditions of a F1 race car, giving you all the thrills of actually racing, by putting you in control.

The park was officially opened just a few days ago, ready for Decemember 2010, during an inauguration ceremony where HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was present.

“The ambitious development projects in progress in Abu Dhabi will help position the Emirate prominently on the global map as a sought after tourist destination. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is a quality addition to our tourism industry which is one of the pillars of our national economy,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

The park naturally also features the ultimate display of Ferrari cars all the way from 1947 to the present day, and the ceremony attracted 2000 VIP guests.

All Images by PR-Nord Neue Kommunikation