Dubai Festival City’s multi-sensory show at the opening of its month long shopping festival has been verified by Guinness World Records as the largest water screen projection in the world.
Officials announced the achievement on stage, as Dubai Festival City (DFC), an Al-Futtaim Group development, launched ‘Imagine’ – a multi-media entertainment spectacular, in front of a crowd of thousands at Festival Bay, Dubai.
The unveiling of the new global attraction, developed in partnership with Australian company Laservision, which plays out a 360-degree story across the waterfront using light, fire and water, kicked off the opening day of the Dubai Shopping Festival.
The AUD 544 million project, which is the world’s largest permanent projection surface, is five times bigger than that of the IMAX screen.
“Imagine signifies the endless opportunities and possibilities of viewers from Dubai and around the world to interact and be a part of the show and to connect with something truly unique,” said Steven Cleaver, director – shopping centres at Al-Futtaim Real Estate.
The daily shows are free-to-attend and are scheduled to run all throughout the year with the main show running each night on the hour.
Set on Dubai Creek, the shopping centre has undergone a radical transformation and now offers approximately 400 retailers and 75 restaurants – many of which feature waterfront dining, including Eataly, Cheesecake Factory, Joe’s Crab Shack, Al Fanar, Fratelli La Bufala and Sugar Factory. Recent retail additions include the world’s largest Aldo Shoe store, Dubai’s first Old Navy and apparel brands Zadig & Voltaire, Mint Velvet, Sandro, Maje, Coach, DKNY, Kate Spade, DVF and Armani Exchange.
The project has been three years in the making. DFC said it experienced a 40 per cent uplift in visitors last year and anticipates the trend to continue after their recent investments in upgrading the centre.
The projection show features twenty 360 degree flowering fountains (30 meter heights), eight static Fountains (30 meter heights), two parabolic fountains, six water screens (13m high and 36m wide), five flame effect units –(10 meters flames), a fireball effect in centerpiece (20 meter flame), a centerpiece geyser (40 meter height) lasers and a projection of internationally renowned dancer, Jessica Hesketh.
The space lends itself to large scale events and launches, with a capacity of 12,000 people.
