Company spokesmen were tight-lipped on specifics. It was also the first in the region to feature Select's proprietary Crystal Maze and The Chamber attractions. It has become a popular venue both for kids and corporate team-building. In The Chamber, also available at Seef Mall, customers make their way through a house of horrors. Played by actors, the story changes each time as participants are squeezed through dark passageways and chased by axe-wielding cooks.
Magic Island offers other innovations.
Children have a huge influence in their parents' decision about where to shop, and an FEC can additionally extend the length of their visit to a mall. In Sharjah, a quiet revolution has taken place with the official opening of Foton World last month by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. Located between Dubai and Sharjah cities, the mall is still only partially let and hopes are firmly pinned on Foton World, which occupies the whole top floor, to boost lettings. Foton World offers a variety of elements specifically designed to help children learn as they play. The former head of the Science Museum in Manila is one of the 200-strong Foton team which conceived and now mans the varied edutainment attractions.