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It's been a good year for Ferrari. In the spring Ferrari celebrated its 60th anniversary with the "Ferrari 60 Relay Tour", sales in 2007 have been higher than ever before and just two weeks ago Kimi Raikkonen clinched the F1 Drivers World Championship for Ferrari. To continue in the same fashion, Ferrari announced that it will build the world's first Ferrari theme park, stretching over 250,000 sqm in the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi. Last Saturday, on November 3rd, Ferrari celebrated the start of construction with invited guests and Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo himself.

During the foundation stone ceremony a time capsule was buried, containing a conrod and a piston straight from this years World Champion F2007 F1 along with the first artist's impressions of the theme park. The capsule will be opened in 2047, when Ferrari celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The theme park, located on Yas Island, will according to Ferrari be "a unique oasis of discovery, hospitality and beauty that captures culture, flavour and the true spirit of Italian country, as well as the legendary automotive history, feeling and heritage of Ferrari cars and racing." When construction is completed in 2009 the park will feature a circuit that will offer driving courses for visitors. The very same circuit will host the first Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix in 2009. This should be a good opportunity for all Middle-Eastern Ferraristis to get acquainted with the F1 circuit.

After the ceremony, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo headed to the grand opening of the Ferrari Store at Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall, the first in the Middle East. The store offers a wide selection of Ferrari products from leather goods to toy models.

Press Release

Foundation Stone Ceremony celebrates construction start for world's first Ferrari Theme Park in Abu Dhabi

Yas Island - Abu Dhabi, November 3rd, 2007 - A Foundation Stone Ceremony was held today in Abu Dhabi to officially signify the start of construction of one of the most multi-dimensional and highly anticipated themed entertainment attractions in the world, the Ferrari Theme Park.

Officials and special guests in attendance for today's event included Ferrari's President Luca di Montezemolo and Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman, ALDAR Properties, as well as invited guests representing media, government and business organizations from around the world.

During the Foundation Stone Ceremony a special time capsule was buried, containing a Conrod and Piston of the F2007, the F1 World Champion Ferrari car, together with the first artist's impression of the Ferrari Theme Park on Yas Island. The capsule will be then opened again at Ferrari's 100th anniversary, in 2047.

"This is a very special year for Ferrari" - Mr. Montezemolo said. "Together with the extraordinary commercial success of our GT cars, it brought to Maranello the F1 Constructors World Championship and the F1 Drivers World Championship with Kimi Raikkonen, and I am particularly proud to be present to mark the symbolic start of this great project. Moreover, 2007 is the year of Ferrari's 60th anniversary, and this Ceremony has therefore a further, important meaning".

Part of a joint project between Italian automotive manufacturer Ferrari and ALDAR properties PJSC, the 250,000 sqm park (80,000 of them covered) will be a unique oasis of discovery, hospitality and beauty that captures culture, flavour and the true spirit of Italian country, as well as the legendary automotive history, feeling and heritage of Ferrari cars and racing. "Today is a celebration of the first step along the way to making the world's first Ferrari theme park a reality, with the laying of the foundation stone" - commented Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman, ALDAR Properties. "An incredible amount of real estate growth is taking place in Abu Dhabi, and it is our responsibility to deliver projects of the highest quality, while protecting the natural, social and cultural assets of the Emirate. I am confident that the blend between the power and beauty of one of the world's leading brands, Ferrari, with ALDAR's expertise in development and regional knowledge, will combine to create a destination that resonates with sports lovers around the world."

When completed in 2009, the attraction will provide amusement for the whole family, featuring multi-format high tech theatres, a variety of sophisticated driving schools (for both children and adults), Ferrari automotive displays and participatory learning centres as well as food and entertainment. Among the 24 attractions, the Park will offer a mix of high-octane and family rides with roller coasters jetting into the sky and dipping through the covered areas. At the heart of the park will be an advanced and sophisticated circuit offering driving courses, which will be the home of the first Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix in 2009.

After the Foundation Stone event at Yas Island, a brand new Ferrari Store will have its official grand opening in Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall. Ferrari's President Luca di Montezemolo, Commercial and Brand Director Dany Bahar, Abdullah Abdel Rahim Al Fahim, Chairman of Al Fahim Enterprises and Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of ALDAR Properties will take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.