Madame Tussauds Dubai is finally open to visitors and if you are planning a trip to Dubai then you must put the first-of-its-kind entertainment venue located in Bluewaters Island on your itinerary. Here are eight reasons why we think it should make it to the list.
Amna Al Haddad – Pioneering Emirati Athlete & Olympic weightlifter, Steve Blackburn – Director of New Openings at Merlin Entertainments, Jack Bennett – Head of Operations, New Openings, and Kris Fade – radio host, social personality at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Madame Tussauds Dubai.
Madame Tussauds Dubai has finally opened its doors to visitors amidst fanfare with pioneering Emirati athlete, and Olympic weightlifter Amna Al Haddad, and radio host and serial entrepreneur Kris Fade cutting the official ceremony ribbon. And if you are still wondering as to why you should put this on your must-visit list, then here are five reasons why …
First-of-its-kind in the region
Madame Tussauds has become an iconic institution since its establishment in London in 1835. A global entertainment attraction, the Dubai edition is not only the 25th version of the celebrated wax figure attraction internationally, but the very first of its kind in the GCC and introduces something entirely new and unique to the regional entertainment landscape. Bringing together handcrafted, like-for-like figures from the worlds of movies and television, sport and science, music, history, art, pop culture, politics and more, Madame Tussauds Dubai is quite simply a one-of-a-kind destination. With seven themed zones to explore and over 60 amazingly lifelike wax figures to discover (including 16 all-new figures from the Middle East such as Maya Diab), the attraction impresses with its scale.
Have ‘Tea’ with the Queen
The Leaders & Royals Room, the first zone in the attraction, sets the tone for a memorable trip and gives visitors the opportunity to encounter royalty, world leaders and iconic public and political figures from both past and present. Enjoying afternoon tea with British monarch Queen Elizabeth II, meeting India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Taj Mahal and stepping on board an Airforce One replica and meeting Donald Trump are just a few of the many highlights this area has to offer.
Get your Fashion Game Face on
The Fashion zone is perfect for those who want to pose with the style icons. Filled with a who’s who of runway icons (all of them impeccably dressed, of course), here keen fashionistas can admire the queen of British style, Victoria Beckham, put-together a couture-inspired outfit for Anna Wintour’s approval, play at being BFFs with supercool Cara Delevingne, strike a pose with Kendall and Kylie Jenner, take a selfie with the fabulous Carla Di Bello and come face to face with Lebanese fashion designer, Elie Saab.
Mingle With Hollywood Glamour
Movie buffs meanwhile can see their fantasies become a reality as they step into the fully immersive Film area and experience life on the silver screen. Guests can get up close and pull up a chair next to Audrey Hepburn for a Breakfast at Tiffany’s moment or try something rather more energetic, such as join Tom Cruise in a high-octane race, scaling the length of Dubai with Spider-Man or debuting a few martial arts moves watched over by the master himself, Jackie Chan.
Get Selfies with Social Media Stars
In the Media zone, savvy social media fans will have a ball (and their iPhones at the ready) as an exclusive backstage pass gives them the chance to get up close and personal with some of the Middle East’s most-loved celebrities, including everyone’s favourite radio personality, the ever affable and always engaging Kris Fade, YouTube phenomenon Bin Baz, Arab Idol presenter, singer and actor Ahmed Fahmi, as well as the musical maverick and Arab Idol judge, Hassan El Shafei.
Do the Bollywood Jig
The Bollywood area at Madame Tussauds is perfect for those who dream in cinemascope. Admirers can make their way through a spectacular secret garden awash with plants and flowers, before starring in a bespoke Bollywood music video and debuting their best moves in front of an interactive digital screen. After that, it’s time to get better acquainted with true Bollywood royalty, think spitting image wax figures of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, and Madhuri Dixit.
Get Sporty
The immersive Sports room allows visitors to kick off the experience by taking a penalty alongside football superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, throwing a well-aimed punch at the legendary Muhammad Ali or posing on an F1 winner’s podium as Lewis Hamilton watches on. Visitors can also stop and admire the strength and tenacity of Emirati weightlifter Amna Al Haddad (and lift a dummy weight alongside her) and check out the wax figure of UAE-representing Olympian Sergiu Toma is also not be missed.
Wax Lyrical with Music Stars
The Music A List Party is the coolest, most exclusive spot in town and offers a fitting finale to any Madame Tussauds visit. Guests are invited to shimmy through a palm tree-fringed archway and dance away amongst a glittering array of regional and international stars, including the exceptional singer Kadim Al Sahir, the celebrated performer Mohammed Assaf, the much-loved Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram, Emirati-Yemeni women’s rights activist and music sensation Balqees Fathi, global superstars Will Smith, Rihanna Justin Bieber and more.
