Dubai: 2 May 2007 - DUBAILAND™, a member of Tatweer, and Dubai Heritage Vision hosted ‘A Night at Al Sahra’ – an exciting and entertaining evening under the desert skies during this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2007. The event held on 2nd May 2007 brought together professionals from the international travel and tourism industry at the Al Sahra Desert Resort.

The Al Sahra Desert Resort is the first entertainment attraction in DUBAILAND™, set to become the region’s biggest leisure and entertainment destination. The Resort opened its doors to the public with ‘Jumana – Secret of the Desert’, the only permanent open air extravaganza in the Middle East, performed in a purpose built, state-of-the-art amphitheatre.

Mohammed Al Habbai, CEO of DUBAILAND™, said: “We are proud to collaborate with Dubai Heritage Vision to provide an opportunity for the international travel and tourism industry to experience the first fully operational DUBAILAND™ attraction. The evening was extremely exciting and we look forward to work with Dubai Heritage Vision on more unique events to be hosted at Al Sahra Desert Resort.”

‘A Night at Al Sahra’ is an exclusive event for ATM delegates, in association with Reed Travel Exhibitions with the support of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

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.

Tariq Baker, DUTCO Group CEO and Chairman of Dubai Heritage Vision said: “Al Sahra is not only the first DUBAILAND™ leisure attraction to open doors to the public, but 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 has chosen to operate the Al Sahra Desert Resort ourselves and not franchise this DUBAILAND™ opportunity to anyone else."

Jumana celebrates the Arab region’s rich history and culture, interpreting fable and folklore themes from the Arabian Gulf, 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, it incorporates various imagery and 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.

The evening at Al Sahra offered a glimpse of what will ultimately enthral visitors to DUBAILAND™. It further gave the international travel and tourism industry professionals a foretaste into what can be expected once all the projects at the massive three billion square feet DUBAILAND™ development are completed.