Dubai opens massive Marvel-branded indoor theme park

A man puts a small boy on his shoulders to look at an animatronic dinosaur at the IMG Worlds of Adventure amusement park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The world’s largest indoor theme park, which features popular Marvel and Cartoon Network-branded rides, has opened in Dubai.

The 1.5 million square-foot (140,000 square-meter) indoor amusement park opened its doors to the public on Wednesday, offering visitors and residents air-conditioned respite from the soaring summer temperatures outside.

Two teenagers look at a statue of the Incredible Hulk that includes a fancy pen on sale at the IMG Worlds of Adventure amusement park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. The Hulk pen set costs 114,940 dirhams, or $31,230. The life-size statue of Iron Man behind it is not for sale. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

The IMG World of Adventure park aims to attract 30,000 visitors daily with its Marvel and Cartoon Network zones, a Lost Valley Dinosaur zone and a “Haunted Hotel” along its indoor boulevard.

Among the rides on offer are a spinning Spider Man roller coaster and a Powerpuff Girls ride.

The adventure park is one of two major theme parks opening this year in Dubai, part of an effort to attract 20 million tourists annually by 2020, when it hosts the World Expo.

Associated Press

People shout as they experience the Powerpuff Girls – Mojo Jojo’s Robot Rampage ride at the IMG Worlds of Adventure amusement park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

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