Dubai students head to Florida on theme park scholarship

Ten Emirati students to spend six months at Legoland Florida in order to find out how the business works.

A group of Emirati students will be at Legoland Florida for six months to discover why youngsters such as these get so much enjoyment out of a theme park. Marjie Lambert / Getty Images

DUBAI // A group of excited Emirati students are going to find out what it takes to run a successful theme park over the next six months when they travel to Florida on a scholarship.

The 10-strong team is from the Dubai Parks and Resorts’ (DPR) Helmi Programme, which is part of a wider initiative to develop local talent to help the company in its future projects.

They will learn the theory and practice of what it takes to run a successful tourist attraction during their time at Legoland Florida.

“We’re all really excited about this opportunity to go to the US and learn how the business works,” said Khalid Al Mulla, 22, who is on the programme.

“It’s a really unique opportunity for all of us because we will be going to learn from people who have been in this business for many years.”

The stay in the US will be crucial in helping the team to develop a core set of skills and teach them how to cope in pressure situations.

Each of the teams will be placed in a different department so they can get the widest range of training.

“One of the things Sheikh Mohammed [bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai] is keen for young Emiratis to do is study abroad and then apply their education in Dubai,” Mr Al Mulla said.

Mr Al Mulla and the other team members are proud to be representing the UAE in the initiative and believe the knowledge they gain from their experience will help to improve the tourism industry in Dubai.

For Alia Almarri, 22, the scholarship is a chance to widen her training. “I come from a hotel hospitality background so wanted to switch to theme parks,” she said.

“Theme park operations fascinate me and I’m so grateful to have been selected for this experience.”

But it is not going to be all work for the team as they will get the chance to experience theme parks as visitors with trips to Disney World and Universal Studios planned.

“I’ve been to Disney World before when I was studying in the US and it was a fantastic experience,” Ms Almarri said.

“Now I’ll be going back with a more keen eye to see how they operate and what they do to make the experience as enjoyable to visitors.

“We can then use these lessons when we return home.”

Students were selected for the project following a series of interviews and tests.

For another student, Salem Al Ali, it is a chance for the UAE to become a global hub for tourism.

“It is the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the chosen team that is going to make that happen,” he said.

DPR is working with the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at University of Central Florida on the programme and faculty members will provide training to a further 40 Emirati students in Dubai later.

It is part of a wider Emiratisation initiative by DPR, which will see more than 1,000 Emiratis hired over the next year.

“Through its extensive Emiratisation programme and innovative education programme we aim to cultivate experts in the industry and develop a new generation of Emirati talent,” said Raed Al Nuaimi, the chief executive of Dubai Parks and Resorts.

DPR’s resort located off the E11 will feature motiongate Dubai – showcasing some of Hollywood’s most beloved characters from different studios as well as the region’s first Legoland Park, and a Legoland Water Park.

There will also be a Bollywood theme park and an extensive retail and dining area.

For more details visit http://www.dubaiparksandresorts.com.