Unfavourable weather conditions will not affect MENA's entertainment and amusement industry according to Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, chairman of International Expo Consults (IEC) and organiser of the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure (DEAL) show.

"As the region experiences the hot and dry climate all-year round, especially in the summer where temperatures reach above 40 °C, indoor theme parks became a hit for tourists and residents alike as they can still enjoy with their families and friends in spite of the weather conditions,” Falaknaz said.

“Conceptualising and developing creative outdoor themeparks with an indoor outlook is an engineering marvel and can be used throughout the year," he added.

The GCC is set to witness a rise in tourism, with current and upcoming theme parks that will attract tourists and residents alike.

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"Climate has always been a challenge and we all know that our summers are very harsh. However, this factor is taken into consideration while designing these giant theme parks. Most of the new theme parks that are coming are majorly indoor, so the climate works as an advantage and not a deterrent anymore. In fact, the busiest months for some theme parks are the summer months. Themepark developers have already addressed all such factors regarding weather," said Amusement Services International managing director Prakash Vivekanand.

Tourist attractions being developed in the UAE include IMG Worlds of Adventure, Dubai Parks and Resorts and Mall of the World, the world's first temperature-controlled city, among other developments addressing the global demand for family and tourism destinations.

"Temperature-controlled theme parks allow us to be fully operational 365 days a year. Being indoors not only protects us from the climate, but allows even more ways in which we can adapt the environment to truly reflect the stories we want to tell," added Lennard Otto, CEO of IMG Worlds of Adventure.

According to a report made by PricewaterCoopers (PwC), UAE theme parks are set to attract 18 million visits by 2021.