Unprecedented in the Middle East, 'Jumana - Secret of the Desert', a permanent open air extravaganza, opened to rave reviews from the press at its exclusive media premiere last Monday. Jumana has already kicked off with daily shows in a purpose built, state-of-the-art amphitheatre at the Al Sahra Desert Resort. The resort is situated in Dubailand, which is set to become one of the world’s top tourism and leisure destinations.
Al Sahra is the latest addition to the DUTCO Group of companies' leisure and hotel portfolio with Dubai Heritage Vision LLC the operator. DUTCO is the majority shareholder in Dubai Heritage Vision and the sole investor in the project, with partner company DAFCO LLC.
Said Tariq Baker, DUTCO Group MD and Chairman of Dubai Heritage Vision LLC: “Not only is Al Sahra the first Dubailand leisure attraction to open doors to the public, our show, Jumana, is also the first ever permanent outdoor show in the Middle East - with an original script, choreography and soundtrack - portraying an Arabian fable. Our magnificent amphitheatre setting completes the magic. True to the Dutco Group philosophy in the hospitality and leisure sector, the company elected to operate by its own counsel and not to franchise the Dubailand opportunity to any foreign group."
The show celebrates the Arab region’s rich history and culture, interpreting fable and folkloric themes from the Gulf region, the Maghreb, the Levant, Yemen, Oman and Persia into a spellbinding fantasy. Performed by 56 dancers and acrobats, mainly from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt, the show incorporates various imagistic theatre techniques, including light and water effects, sound and laser, as well as video and image projections; and pyrotechnics. Arabian horses and camels complement the cast.
A major coup for the production is Hollywood legend Omar Sharif's voice as the storyteller. "Mr Sharif masterfully incarnates the voice of the Arabic storyteller in Jumana. We are privileged to be associated with his celebrity," said Tariq Baker.
"Some of the best partners in show business collaborated with us to create a spectacle of unmatched proportions in the region and in certain aspects, the world. Francois Montel, renowned for lighting the Eiffel Tower at the turn of the millennium and the opening of the Greek Olympics in Athens, designed the pyrotechnics," elaborated Tariq Baker. Other famous names include Pedro Pauwels, a respected choreographer in many European and Eastern European theatres; and composer Jean Musy, with more than sixty films and television series to his credit. Music arranger Mick Lanaro (producer and arranger for Charles Aznavour, Oscar Peterson and Patrick Bruel, amongst others), was responsible for the Jumana soundtrack.
Apart from the amphitheatre, the main entertainment complex incorporates a traditional Arabic craft souk, restaurants and a coffee shop, surrounded by indigenous regional flora and fauna in a typical desert oasis landscape – an ideal setting for the day visitor.
A Bedouin style village area, a date plantation with a falaj (an ancient Arabic irrigation system), a camel farm; a petting zoo and horse stables complete the scenery at this low-density development, maintaining the character, peace and tranquillity of the desert.
About Dubai Heritage Vision:
DHV is a limited liability company with plans to introduce a portfolio of projects and initiatives to the local and international leisure, hospitality and retail markets. Dubai based, Dutco Group LLC, is the majority shareholder in the company, with partner company, DAFCO LLC. The organisation's first initiative comprises the Al Sahra Desert Resort, situated at Dubailand, Dubai, UAE.
True to the Dutco Group philosophy in the hospitality and leisure sector, the company elected to operate by its own counsel and not to franchise the Dubailand opportunity to any foreign group.
About the Dutco Group:
The establishment of Dutco dates back to 1947, when a leading local businessman Mr Yousuf Baker established Dubai Transport Company. Today, the adept chairman of the Group, Ahmed Baker, and executive director, Abdullah Saleh, renowned for his financial prowess, are the visionaries invigorating the Group. Currently, there is virtually no aspect of Dubai's infrastructure development in which the Dutco Group does not play a part. The group's successes extend well beyond Dubai and the Middle East. Dutco’s activities include stake holding in the oil industry, large-scale civil engineering work, earth-moving, mechanical and electrical engineering, drainage and tunneling, dredging, survey and reclamation, pipeline engineering, information technology and telecommunications, shipping and freight services, trading and luxury hotel operations.
About Al Sahra:
Al Sahra is a Dubai Heritage Vision LLC initiative. It is part of the multibillion dollar Dubailand project. Dubailand is destined to be the biggest, most varied leisure, entertainment and tourism attraction on the planet. Al Sahra is in a natural dunescape, which is just thirty minutes from the heart of Dubai. This unique eco-tourism project offers visitors a life-time experience. Al Sahra comprises a variety of attractions and activities for the day visitor. Luxury tented lodges are scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2007, followed by a 132-room boutique-styled hotel.
