Eagle Hills and Emaar Entertainment have formed a joint venture (JV) to bring an aquarium and underwater zoo to the Marassi Galleria shopping mall in Bahrain. The JV agreement was signed by Low Ping, CEO of Eagle Hills and Ahmad Al Matrooshi, MD of Emaar Properties.
The shopping mall is taking shape in Marassi Al Bahrain, an urban project by Eagle Hills as part of a JV with Diyar Al Muharraq, the developer of the Diyar Al Muharraq megaproject.
According to a statement, the Marassi Aquarium and Underwater Zoo will be an ideal edutainment zone once it is complete. The attraction is billed as the first of its kind in the kingdom and will span 26,900sqft. It is expected to hold 360,000-litres of water and over 200 species of fish.
Emaar Entertainment will operate the Marassi Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, which will feature modern design and a 20-foot-long digital tunnel with multiple interactive digital exhibits. The aquarium is expected to feature four different ecological zones: ‘Rainforest’, the ‘Ocean Trench’, the ‘Jellyfish’ (Boom Room) and the ‘Reef Zone’, which includes ‘Lab of the Future’. These are in addition to 50 other exhibits with hundreds of animals, which will make the aquarium comparable to other world-class aquariums across the globe, the statement said.
“The signing of this agreement with Emaar Entertainment comes as part of our efforts to position Marassi Galleria as an integral component of the Marassi Al Bahrain development, as it is intended to set a new benchmark for entertainment and leisure experiences. Partnering with notable entities such as Emaar Entertainment further cements the mall’s reputation as one of the kingdom’s highly anticipated destinations, and we are confident that Marassi Aquarium and Underwater Zoo will play a key role in both the local and regional tourism sectors,” said Low Ping.
The statement noted that strategically located tanks and immersive tunnels within the exhibits will allow visitors to come face-to-face with varied collections of aquatic life, enabling them to learn more about a wide array of marine species.
Visitors can also choose a diving experience or assist in feeding presentations. These encounters will allow visitors to better understand how the animals are looked after. Visitors will also be able to access highlights of the research and conservation initiatives undertaken to preserve marine life, the statement explained.
Ahmad Al Matrooshi added, “After witnessing the success of our Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, it was decided to replicate the experience in the Bahraini market. As the latest addition to Emaar Entertainment’s diverse portfolio of offerings, Marassi Aquarium and Underwater Zoo will provide innovative experiences to suit individuals and groups. This comes in line with our commitment to developing unparalleled attractions across the MENA region, and we expect that it will become a popular destination for tourists across the region.”
