What's new in our Leisure and Attractions world?
Dear reader,

We hope your long Eid break was everything you hoped it was.

Now that we're all back in action, we're excited to give you a roundup of what our buzzing Leisure & Attractions industry has been up to in the region and the world over.

We've got news about SAUDI ARABIA’s plans to offer $133m in loans to 50 new entertainment projects, how a leading supplier to the regional FECs is seeing more revenue than they did in 2019, new project announcements, a lot of exciting industry "firsts" launching, a magical real-life story of a 12-year-old who designed a Roald Dahl theme park that's sure to warm your heart, and much more.

Without further ado, grab a coffee and dive into our latest newsletter!

We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did creating it for you.
When it comes to transformative action in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s story is an inspiring one. With a cultural shift at play, the Kingdom is increasingly pinning itself to the region’s Leisure and Attractions map while also being an excellent case study for the rest of the world. Read More
Empex Watertoys® is a splash pad manufacturer and innovator and designer of unique and interactive splash park equipment since 1986, providing water toys and aquatic playground equipment to waterparks, amusement parks, hotels and resorts, municipal parks, recreation facilities, housing complexes, YMCA’s, YWCA’s, campgrounds, zoos and military bases in over 50 countries around the world.
 
Committed to making waterparks more exciting and safe for its patrons, Empex develops its own specialty fiberglass and plastics formulations designed specifically for superior performance in aquatic environments, translating to the long-lasting durability of its products and cost-savings for clients. Fabricated from non-ferrous materials, Empex water features have a lifetime corrosion warranty, low electrical and heat conductivity for safe aquatic play.
While undoubtedly 2020-2021 have been a tough year for the leisure and attractions industry tipping us towards a pessimistic vocabulary, there have been a few astounding projects in our region that have silently stayed the course and determinedly demonstrated that the human spirit is capable of rebounding and delivering ambitious plans against all odds.

Doha Oasis Quest - a state-of-the-art first-ever indoor theme park in Qatar, with record-breaking rides – is one such iconic attraction that has opened in these challenging times. We are delighted to be in conversation with Mr. Marcel Hendriks, General Manager, Doha Oasis Quest to learn about their dream and aim, park theme, iconic offerings, customer centric-philosophy and more. Read More
Within an organization for health and safety to be truly effective it needs to come down from the top of the organization and filter through all levels of a business. It is both a ‘top down and bottom up’ approach for HS&E and the message from the board needs to be strong so that HS&E is adopted by all and taken seriously within an organisation.

Read this very informative article by Mr. Ross Pattison, HSE Manager, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi on the Roles and Responsibilities which stresses that everyone throughout the organisation must have responsibilities for health and safety and then breaks down some key responsibilities for individuals throughout the organisation. Read More
The Edutainment segment has been expanding rapidly in the last few years. This is partly due to the discovery that STEM, especially when taught through exploration is vital for children development. Moreover, learning through self-discovery and independent effort not only increases core literacy and comprehension skills but also encourages children to continue learning.

Read this article by Mr. Borislav Atanasov, Sales Manager Walltopia & Rollglider, to explore how this trend-enhancing learning through entertainment is a great opportunity for FECs to provide real value beyond fun to both parents and their children. Read More
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“It’s the emergence of the digital-savvy consumer who looks for the convenience and ease that comes with being able to make cashless purchases, book tickets from their phone, and who are willing to provide personal details in return for curated and customized experiences that are changing the face of customer experience,” said Philip Edgell, Vantage’s President. Read More
There are now more than 150 FECs in the Middle East using Semnox’s Parfait cash management system, reports the company. Read More
ProSlide Technology Inc., an industry leader in water ride manufacturing and design, is celebrating the opening of its cutting-edge MammothBLAST/FlyingSAUCER 45 water coaster at the popular Aquashow water park in Portugal. Read More
Themed around an aircraft carrier take-off, the coaster features four fighter jet trains with a maximum of eight passengers per train, and can reach a top speed of 97 kilometres per hour. Read More
Transforming the business of fun since 2001, Embed is proud to partner with Pizza Ranch to announce the opening of three new locations across the American Midwest: Champlin, Minnesota; Brookings, South Dakota; and, Duluth, Minnesota. Read More
HOLOGATE, a global leader in turnkey compact multiplayer VR systems, has announced the launch of a new next-gen free-roaming VR adventure platform called HOLOGATE X. This features HXR (HOLOGATE XPERIENCE REALITY), a hyper-reality technology designed by the company to bring together VR, full-body tracking and 4D physical effects within an immersive and social experience. Read More
Intercard, the world leader in cashless technology for the amusement industry, has installed its latest system at Fun Planet, a renovated FEC in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia. Read More
This is an experience suitable for both young and old and takes guests on a magical adventure, featuring many surprises and innovative uses of technology, with a story by Fractal Picture. Read More
QubicaAMF Worldwide (QubicaAMF), the largest bowling products company in the world, is excited to announce the launch of its new duckpin attraction, Fly’n Ducks. The product officially launched in the QubicaAMF booth #472 at the Nightclub & Bar show held in Las Vegas in June, 2021. Read More
The 6-Player SPREE Arena can accommodate up to 120 guests per hour, and is filled with educational and family-friendly virtual reality content. The addition of the SPREE Arena complements the museum’s modern and interactive theme, which is focused towards all ages. Read More
The cutting-edge park features several Asia firsts, such as the Dueling RocketBLAST/FlyingSAUCER 20/30 Water Coaster and the competitive six-lane RallyRACER. This is the ninth time that ProSlide and OCT have worked together, over the course of a more than a decade long relationship. Read More
The NorthBreak surf resort in Australia hopes to start construction in early 2022. Set 10km outside of Port Douglas, local developer David Imgraben has received a positive response from the local community for his proposals. Read More
The Phoenix roller coaster makes its official debut on July 4th weekend at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. According to DJ Vourderis, whose family owns and operates the park, it’s a high-speed love letter to New York City. Read More
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