Q&A with Claus Frimand, the general manager of Ferrari World
Q Where do you think visitors are likely to come from?
A Ferrari is a brand that enjoys a mass following all over the world. Hence, the concept of the first Ferrari theme park is guaranteed to have a broad international appeal. Our core target market will naturally be those living in and visiting the GCC, although international tourists are still a very important audience for us.
Why do you think Ferrari World will be a success in this region?
Motorsports are extremely popular in the UAE; testament to that is the Etihad Airways Formula One Grand Prix hosted at Yas Marina Circuit for the second year in a row. The passion for Ferrari in the UAE is deeply rooted; there's a huge base of enthusiasts and fans who share a love for speed, top-notch race cars and everything that Ferrari stands for - excellence, quality, innovation. In addition to this, our feasibility studies show that Ferrari World Abu Dhabi perfectly fills a gap in the market for family-friendly entertainment options, which can be enjoyed all year round.
How many visitors are you expecting per day?
We are not speculating on expected visitor numbers and are fully focused on providing a memorable experience for visitors. We are highly confident [about] the quality of rides and attractions inside the park, including the world's fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa, and many other attractions which have been meticulously designed with the family in mind. Our aim is to create an attraction which becomes a regular feature for people looking for an amazing day out - something which people will come back to time and time again
Are there any F1 packages that include entry to Ferrari World?
A special multiple-entry race week package has been put together for the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2010. For visitors attending the Grand Prix and perhaps staying on Yas Island, this is a perfect entertainment package. For Dh450 [US$122.51] people can buy a multi-entry ticket for Ferrari World Abu Dhabi which lets them visit the park as many times as they like from November 11 to 14.