1. Universal Studios Dubailand (Dubai)

Hidden away in the Arabian Desert is the crumbling corpse of Universal Studios Dubailand, the doomed attempt to bring a Universal theme park to the Middle East. The park was to be the jewel in the crown of Dubailand, and Universal's very participation seemed to be a way of Dubailand as a whole thumbing its nose at Disney, which opted not to be a part of the resort.

The park was set to be based on the rough template of Universal Studios Florida, but would include a host of unique attractions. This would have included a King Kong-themed roller coaster that would race around a jungle setting, a massive recreation of Jurassic Park and the world's first ride to be themed around Ghostbusters. There would also be clones of rides from other Universal theme parks, such as a version of the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster.

Constuction work began in 2008, ahead of a projected opening day in 2010. A trademark Universal entrance archway was built, and it is even reported that track for the King Kong coaster arrived on site ready to be installed.

However, work came to a stop a year later, with the global economic downturn effectively stamping out any hope of it restarting. Universal Studios Dubailand was left standing, abandoned, in the middle of a desert that gradually began to reclaim its unfinished structures.

Universal has a habit of announcing theme parks that never materialise. In recent years, it has promised parks in Korea, Beijing and Moscow, and there's little sign of any of them actually opening. Will the improving economic climate lead to their revival? We'll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, that iconic entrance archway in Dubai will continue to lead nowhere...