Antic’s Land: from an oriental journey to digital worlds

A journey built beneath one roof

Antic’s Land officially opened on 13 January 2002 on the third level of Mega Mall. The centre represented a reported investment of 35 million dirhams and covered 85,000 square feet after eighteen months of development. More than 40,000 visitors passed through its doors during the first three weeks, immediately giving the new venue a visible place in Sharjah leisure.

The project was not presented as a simple games hall. Antic, a curious young hero, guided visitors through Beauty, Discovery and Utopia, three mystical lands linking an imagined past with a futuristic Sharjah. Fourteen musical compositions and sound effects accompanied day and night moods, making architecture, story and spectacle parts of one whole.

A mechanical heart inside Mega Mall

At opening, twelve mechanical rides stood beside 180 video games and kiddie rides, a theatre, a 3D cinema, a climbing wall and a soft-play area. Aquariums, animals and an interactive science exhibition extended its educational ambition. That breadth explains why the venue was described from launch as a complete family centre rather than a single arcade.

More than two decades later, the official presentation retains landmarks from that first era. Thunder Mountain, the monorail, pirate ship, dark rides, Flying Fish and carousel remain woven into the oriental façades and volumes of the indoor park. Their presence makes the history legible: Antic’s Land has evolved around its founding scenery instead of erasing it.

New gateways into play

Comparing the launch with the current offer reveals a gradual transformation. The website now presents more than twenty attractions, over fifty redemption games, 5D, 7D and 9D experiences, a dedicated virtual and augmented reality zone, and family bowling split between regular and mini lanes. These are new ways to extend Antic’s journey: screens, headsets and lanes now complement the physical scenery and moving rides.