Three of Dubai Parks and Resorts' theme parks and two hotels - covering an area of 25 million square foot - are expected to be handed over as scheduled next year despite a slowdown in some construction work.

Despite the slow progress of mechanical, electrical and plumbing work, the resort will have a soft opening of its three theme parks in September 2016, a senior company official said in comments published byConstruction Week Online.

Paul La France, chief project officer, Dubai Parks and Resorts, said: "Our MEP work has fallen a bit behind [deadline] projections for the end of this year.

"We start to turn over pieces of the park next January - February timeframe and there's a sequence of handover through 2016 culminating in a soft opening on September 1, 2016."

On completion, the $2.86 billion resort will comprise Legoland Dubai, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Motiongate Dubai, Lapita - a Polynesian-themed hotel - and Riverland Dubai - a retail, dining and entertainment district.

Rajmahal Theatre in Bollywood Park is due to be handed over early next year to its operators, added Raed Al Nuaimi, chief executive officer, Dubai Parks and Resort.