Thrill-seekers have a fresh addition for their bucket list: the Bollywood Skyflyer.
Standing 460 feet (140 meters) tall, roughly the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the new attraction beats the previous record-holder by just 10 feet.
Unveiled last week at Bollywood Parks Dubai, it set a new world record as the tallest swing ride, edging out the 450-foot Orlando Starflyer.
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The Bollywood Skyflyer is built from 421 tons of steel, and it took 600 days to construct plus another 120 days to install, says Milton D'Souza, general manager of the popular theme park.
Nine new attractions
Bollywood Parks Dubai was forced to close for several months because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
One of the three theme parks that make up Dubai Parks and Resorts, Bollywood Parks Dubai reopened on January 21 with nine new attractions, including the record-setting Bollywood Skyflyer.
Among the other new rides at the Bollywood-themed park are a 180-foot (55-meter) Ferris wheel, a Mumbai taxi-style roller coaster, and a "rocket" free-fall tower, all designed to "bring the vibrant culture of India to life," D'Souza says.
Like many other businesses, the park treated the closure as a chance to expand and upgrade what it offers.
"We used this time to create and build a brand-new area in the park, which we call the Mela Zone, home to most of the nine new attractions at Bollywood Parks Dubai," D'Souza explains.
In 2019, Dubai Parks and Resorts drew 2.6 million visitors. D'Souza hopes the "refresh" will bring even more guests to the park in the years ahead, as Dubai grows into an ever more popular travel destination.
Even more record-breaking rides
According to D'Souza, Bollywood Parks plans to set even more records in 2021. Later this year, the park intends to open Bombay Express, the region's first and only wooden roller coaster.
Meanwhile, beyond Dubai Parks and Resorts, Ain Dubai is preparing to claim the title of the world's tallest observation wheel when it opens later in 2021 on Bluewaters Island. At 688 feet (210 meters), Ain Dubai will take the crown from the 550-foot High Roller in Las Vegas.
