The developers behind a proposed Legoland theme park in Dubai have insisted the project will still go ahead despite delays brought about by the emirate’s economic slowdown.

The project is a partnership between UK-based attractions operator Merlin Entertainments Group and Dubailand developers Tatweer. It was originally scheduled to open in 2011.

“Given the current situation in the region work on the project has been delayed, but both Merlin and our local partners remain entirely committed to building a Legoland Park in Dubai,” a spokesperson from Merlin told Arabian Business this week.

In May 2008, Merlin, the world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, announced a strategic alliance with Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holdings, to create Legoland Dubailand.

The AED912m ($248.28m) project was to occupy a total of three million square feet inside Dubailand, Tatweer said in a statement in May 2008. The park was billed as the first Legoland park to be built outside of North America and Europe and was to include more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions.

In June 2008, Merlin’s CEO Nick Varney told Leisure Manager magazine that the company was “very interested” in working with Tatweer to set up a Dubai branch of the famous Madame Tussauds waxworks museum.

However, the spokesperson added that Merlin now had “no plans at the moment” to pursue setting up the museum.