The world’s largest indoor theme park, IMG Worlds of Adventure, opened its doors in Dubai on August 31.

Wholly owned by the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group and managed by IMG Worlds, the $1bn resort is the first international-grade theme park to open in the emirate – although it will soon be followed by the opening of Dubai Parks and Resorts in October.

Spanning 1.5 million square feet, IMG Worlds of Adventure is the first global theme park to feature international brands Marvel and Cartoon Network, in addition to two proprietary brands, IMG Boulevard and Lost Valley: Dinosaur Adventure.

The theme park includes a wide range of roller coasters and attractions, complemented by 28 original food and beverage offerings and 25 retail outlets.

“The creation of IMG Worlds of Adventure is the realisation of a shared childhood dream,” Ilyas Galadari and Mustafa Galadari, executive co-chairmen and owners of the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group, said in a joint statement.

“This landmark launch has turned our aspirations of creating the world’s largest indoor theme park into a reality. This marks a great achievement for everyone at the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group and we would like to thank everyone who has been part of this epic journey.”

Lennard Otto, chief executive officer of IMG Worlds of Adventure, added: “We are excited to have launched the world’s largest indoor theme park, which will be a major tourism attraction for Dubai, the surrounding regions and the rest of the world.

“As the first international theme park to open in Dubai, we expect to host over 4.5 million people in our first year of operation, transforming the entertainment and leisure industry forever.”