Business & Money | Wednesday 23 November, 2016 3:47 pm |

 In a move to extend its vision of a ‘World Beyond Cash’ to the UAE’s leisure and entertainment market, Mastercard has brought a cashless payment experience to IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world’s largest indoor theme park.

 

As the exclusive payment network partner of the recently opened entertainment destination owned by the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group and managed by IMG Worlds, Mastercard is fueling IMG Worlds of Adventure’s drive towards establishing itself as the digital theme park of the future through its Payment Gateway Services.
 

As merchants around the world look to tap into the growth of digital commerce, Mastercard’s gateway technology enables them to accept payments regardless of which device or payment brand is being used, or which market the shopper is in; ultimately, resulting in a simpler, safer and more convenient experience for consumers.

 

Guests visiting the 1.5 million-square-foot entertainment destination will benefit from a seamless omni-channel payment experience, brought to life via the theme park’s mobile application, website and self-service kiosks, all powered by Mastercard Payment Gateway Services.

 

“Mastercard has been the driving force behind today’s advanced payment solutions and our partnership with IMG Worlds of Adventure is an extraordinary showcase of our global drive to deliver on our vision of a cashless world, one step at a time. Bringing our proven expertise in innovation and payments technology to a world-class project like IMG Worlds of Adventure not only represents a key milestone for the region, but also helps to expedite the wider adoption of smart technologies across high-turnover industries such as entertainment and leisure,” said Khalid Elgibali, Division President, Middle East and North Africa, Mastercard.

 

Designed with the objective of providing a simple ‘tap-and-go’ cashless environment across the park, the Mastercard Payment Gateway Services-enabled IMG Worlds of Adventure mobile application enhances the guest experience by offering a full spectrum of industry-leading payment solutions that offer a new level of convenience for families and individuals.   

 

One example of this is the Masterpass digital wallet service, which eliminates the need for families and individuals to carry physical cash during their visit, thereby minimizing fraud-related risks. The solution will also give parents the option to allow their children to explore the colossal theme park independently by remotely regulating their individual wallets through the mobile application, which can be linked to multiple accounts.

 

“In keeping with the needs of the millennials and omni-shoppers, our safe, simple and smart Payment Gateway Services solutions provide just the technological framework and capabilities that a state-of-the-art entertainment destination like IMG Worlds of Adventure needs. Backed by our merchant-focused approach and our global expertise, we look forward to ensuring that guests to this highly anticipated theme park can take advantage of our innovative solutions across every stage of their payment experience,” said Eyad Al Kourdi, Senior Vice President and General Manager – UAE, Mastercard.

 

“As the world’s largest indoor theme park, IMG Worlds of Adventure aims to redefine the modern theme park experience and partnering with a leading global payments and technology company like Mastercard is one of the key ways that will enable us to achieve this vision. As the first theme park in the region to create an exclusive mobile app, we are offering our guests the ability to create a paperless wallet that can be shared between families or friends throughout the park through convenient and secure payments. This partnership also demonstrates our commitment to help transform Dubai into an innovative and smart economy,” said Lennard Otto, Chief Executive Officer - IMG Worlds of Adventure

 

“We are extremely proud to be working with Mastercard to develop this original mobile application. By using world-class technology, we are empowering our guests to have the best possible experience at IMG Worlds of Adventure,” stated Adam Alexander Page - Director of Strategic Alliances, IMG Worlds of Adventure.  

 

In addition to functioning as a virtual user guide with interactive maps and services for guests, the mobile app will also include value added features that will be rolled out in phases, a range of other cutting-edge features, including a child tracking system, an ‘advanced way-finding tracking infrastructure’, ride bookings, queuing times, reservations for restaurants and experiences, notifications, ‘buy-now-pick-up-at-exit’ shopping enhancements, and much more.

 

Located within the heart of new Dubai, UAE, IMG Worlds of Adventure is the Middle East’s first multi-themed entertainment destination featuring four interactive zones, including Cartoon Network, MARVEL, IMG Boulevard and Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure. The temperature-controlled park is open year-round and expects to attract 4.5 million visitors in the first year of operation.