Another VIP gala evening was unfolding at the Madinat Jumeirah on Wednesday April 30. "FreeJ Dubailand" was the big announcement. Freej - meaning neighbourhood - is the Arabic animation created by Mohammed Saeed Harib. The series depicts four grandmothers in traditional attire. Guests first lounged around with fresh juices and tasty chicken skewers soon after the doors had opened at 6:30pm. An hour later they were urged to enter the auditorium and soon found themselves walking down a dark hall and experienced FreeJ in 3-D. Hologram like projections of the four main Freej characters were just a peek at the show that was too unfold. By 8pm it seemed the house was full and guests anxiously waited for the key speakers. Thirty more minutes pass by, which of course is a typical event timeline in Dubai. Finally the five minute warning was announced only to find out 20 minutes later that it would be another 20 minutes. Two hours after sitting in the dining room chairs, watching the same animation loop, Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum arrives - the reason for the delay - and the half hour show unfolds. Dancers, drummers, props and projections told Tatweer's future development plans in building FreeJ Dubailand which is planned to open in 2013. The theme park includes four main areas: Window on the UAE, Golden Age of Discovery, Myths and Legends, and the Land of Freej. The four Freej characters will be ambassadors to the various sections where restaurants to roller coaster rides, can be found.
