A wax figure, previously located in London, was moved to the emirate and publicly revealed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Foreign Minister and son of the late prominent political figure.
On Sunday, Madame Tussauds Dubai proudly revealed the wax figure of the late former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto. Previously housed in Madame Tussauds London, the statue has now found its new home in Dubai.
The unveiling ceremony took place at Bluewaters Island and was presided over by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is also the son of the late prime minister. Bilawal Bhutto expressed his emotional connection to Dubai, as it held a special place in his family’s heart, having spent around ten years in exile there. He even received his primary and secondary education in the UAE, forging a strong bond with the city and the country.
During the inauguration, Bilawal Bhutto expressed his gratitude for honoring his mother’s memory with a wax statue. He praised Benazir Bhutto as a symbol of democracy, freedom, and equality for all, highlighting her progressive stance as a leading figure in Pakistan.
The ceremony was attended by Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, who expressed his happiness over the collaboration with Madame Tussauds Museum, which made the event possible.
The wax figure of Benazir Bhutto was originally sculpted in 1989 and had been displayed in London. Benazir herself had been involved in the figure’s creation, choosing the style and costume alongside the artists at that time. The figure underwent significant refreshment and extra work before being transported to Dubai.
Creating a wax figure is a meticulous process, taking 6 to 8 months to complete. It involves precise measurements from head to toe, with each hair meticulously inserted one by one. The attention to detail and artistic work make the creation of wax figures time-consuming and expensive, with each figure costing around Dh700,000 to produce.
Madame Tussauds Dubai is home to an impressive collection of wax figures from various fields, including sports, media, politics, entertainment, bloggers, and fashion.
The museum, situated next to Ain Dubai, was inaugurated in 2021 and boasts a collection of 60 global stars, featuring numerous new wax figures.