A foundation stone ceremony was held Saturdayin 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 the event included Ferrari's President Luca di Montezemolo and Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman, Aldar Properties PJSC, together with invited guests from the media, government and business organisations across the world. 

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

'This is a very special year for Ferrari,' Mr. Montezemolo explained. '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, the 250,000sqm 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 Italy along with itsfamed 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' said 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 theme park destination that inspires sports fans throughout  the world,'

Upon completion in 2009, the themed attraction will provide amusement for the entiree 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 with accompanying food and entertainment.

Among the 24 attractions, the park will offer a mix of thrill and family rides with roller coasters jetting into the sky and dipping through the covered areas. At the heart of the theme park will be a state-of-the-art and highly sophisticated circuit offering driving courses, which will be the site of the first Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix in 2009.

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