‘The world’s greatest football club’ launches its own theme park

There are few football clubs as successful or famous as Real Madrid. The 1902-established juggernaut is the world’s most valuable club in the round-ball game, its most supported, and even the most valuable brand globally.

The FIFA-declared greatest football club of the 20th century is celebrating the recent completion of an €86 million renovation of its home ground, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (apart from a top-storey VIP bar that is the subject of a legal dispute).

And further from home, it’s just launched its first theme park.

Real Madrid and Dubai Parks and Resorts have opened Real Madrid World in Dubai. It spans six hectares, the equivalent of six football pitches, the same area as the Santiago Bernabeu, and it features more than 40 experiences and rides, including Stars Flyer, which at 140 metres, is said to be the world’s tallest flying chairs ride, and Hala Madrid Coaster, the Middle East’s first and only wooden roller coaster.

There are immersive games and experiences such as The Real Challenge, Road to Victory or Bernabeu Experience, an exhibition of the 15 European Cups (and 11 in basketball) won by the club. At Meet the Stars, fans can have their photo taken with life-size figures of several legendary players from Real Madrid’s history.

There’s also space to congregate to watch the team’s matches live, several restaurants and of course, retail.

Dubai tourist numbers are already on the increase. The emirate saw 13.29 million visitors in the first nine months of 2024 (compare that to the last Australian annual of around 8 million), up 7.1 per cent on the same period in 2023.