Work to revitalise Durban’s beachfront is gaining pace, with the announcement that the flagship Durban Amusement Park project is set to get under way next year.
The eThekwini Municipality said development work on the nearly R1 billion project would be completed in the first quarter of 2027, after which construction would begin.
The Durban Amusement Park project aims to revitalise Durban’s beachfront and enhance its tourism offerings.
Previous media reports indicated that it would be developed in partnership with two Italian amusement-engineering firms known for projects at Ferrari World, Universal Studios and Disneyland.
The development is planned for the former Durban Funworld site as part of the central beach precinct, under a long-term development lease with the municipality. It will bring back a permanent, ride-led attraction to a beachfront that has not had one since Funworld closed.
It was reported that the park is planned to feature multiple world-class rides, an extended-reality and digital zone, a curated retail offering and an upgraded, events-focused amphitheatre. The mix of indoor and outdoor attractions will allow it to operate year-round, including on wet-weather days and in the evenings.
The area, referred to as the Golden Mile already attracts more than 17 million promenade visits a year. The park is designed to give visitors more reasons to stay longer, return more often and spend more at surrounding hotels, restaurants and other tourism businesses.
It is the entertainment centrepiece of more than R2 billion in investment spent or committed to Durban’s beachfront, alongside the redevelopment of Joe Kools and upgrades to the Elangeni and Maharani hotel precincts. The municipality sees these projects as central to its long-term beachfront renewal strategy.
eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said: “The project is crucial to enhancing the tourism experience along the beachfront. It also demonstrates the City’s commitment to expanding its tourism offerings, encouraging visitors to stay longer and enjoy the wide range of attractions and experiences Durban has to offer.”
Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC) leader Patrick Pillay said the party supported the public-private partnership, which would see the Durban beachfront transformed into a “wonderland of vibrant entertainment and activity” once completed.
“The City must move full steam ahead together with the private partnership to make this a reality for our citizens. The DLC also notes that the full funding will be provided by the private sector, while the City provides the property and existing infrastructure,” Councillor Pillay said.
He said the initiative would create much-needed jobs and boost the City’s economy while transforming the beachfront into a fantasy world of entertainment.
In a statement, the municipality said the much-anticipated beachfront development had reached an advanced stage. It said the proposed R980 million family amusement, entertainment and leisure development had secured approval for project-development funding from a development finance institution.
“This approval is a critical step towards construction, as it confirms institutional confidence,” the municipality said. It added that the development finance institution had completed its assessment of the project and approved the funding.
The funding will also cover statutory work and support detailed planning and technical aspects. The approval strengthens the City’s position by highlighting the alignment between national government, the development-finance sector and the municipality.
The municipality said that, with funding approved, the development had completed its design stage and that technical planning work was under way.
“Statutory development work will follow and is expected to run until the end of the first quarter of 2027, with construction to follow,” the statement said.
The municipality said the project had become one of the key tourism-infrastructure developments supported by the National Department of Tourism. The project was selected through the department’s 2026 call for projects and included among key tourism-infrastructure developments. The City submitted it as an investment-ready project.
The project was also showcased at the South African Tourism Investment Summit, providing national exposure.
The development is expected to create about 1,400 jobs across construction and operations, with local small businesses incorporated into the park’s supply chain, the municipality said.