ORLANDO --SeaWorld made a major announcement Thursday saying that is it building four parks in Dubai.
Busch Entertainment Corporation president and chief operating officer Jim Atchison, Nakheel-BEC CEO Chris O'Donnell and The Palm Jebel Ali's managing director Marwan Al Qamzi announced the deal in a ceremony at SeaWorld Orlando.
The parks would be built on The Palm Jebel Ali, part of Dubai's ambitious "The World" complex. See an interactive map.
According to the agreement, the parks to be built will be a SeaWorld park, Aquatica, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove.
Aquatica is a new water park that is opening in Orlando this weekend. At Discovery Cove, reservation-only visitors can swim with aquatic animals.
The first phase of the project is projected to open in 2012. The Worlds of Discovery on the Palm Jebel Ali will also include hotels, spas, shops and restaurants.
Chris O'Donnell said that Dubai has become "one of the world's leading tourist destinations." He said they already have agreements in place with Trump, Cirque du Soleil and Atlantis.
"It's a region of the world that is just amazing. It's cosmopolitan, it is really changing, literally, how the world and travelers view vacation destinations," Atchison said.
According to Atchinson, Dubai has the fastest growing economy on the planet and that 5 million people will visit the country by the time the parks open in 2012.
Early reports speculated that the theme park would be expanding to China.
Busch Entertainment has ten theme parks in the United States.
SeaWorld said Thursday that it has had years of record profits and it is time to expand internationally.
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