Real Madrid Resort Island in UAE Falls Through

Have you ever thought of booking the Sergio Ramos Room, the Iker Casillas Suite or the Cristiano Ronaldo Wing? That was a possibility as recently as a few months ago, but Real Madrid have now shelved plans to build the Real Madrid Resort Island, reports Marca.

The Spanish giants had planned to capitalise on their worldwide presence by building a Real Madrid-themed island in Ras Al-Khaimah in United Arab Emirates.

When outlining plans for the island at its unveiling in March 2012, Real president Florentino Perez said:

This is a decisive and strategic step that will enhance the strength of this institution in the Middle East and Asia, a key region in which the passion for this club has been apparent.

Real Madrid Resort Island will be a sports touristic complex of the highest level, covering 50 hectares in which tourism and sport will seduce millions of people in search of a quality leisurely activities.

Real Madrid’s website reported that $1 billion had been invested in the project, while boasting that it would be the “first theme park on an artificial island to combine tourism and sports.”

However, Perez revealed on Thursday that the project had “fallen through,” which was confirmed by Marca.

Reuters subsequently reported that executives in charge of the project denied it had been scrapped, and that the planned 450-room hotel and theme park—which was initially slated to open in 2015—could be shifted to Abu Dhabi.