3 Must-Visit Theme Parks In The UAE

The United Arab Emirates is a land of startling contrasts. What used to thrive on fishing, pearl diving and maritime trading is now home to two of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities: Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is a Muslim country but is home to more than 200 nationalities professing various faiths and practicing different religions. It is hot, it barely rains, and 80% of its area is a barren desert, but it has some of the most notable water parks in the world.

The best theme parks in the UAE give theme parks in other parts of the world a run for their money. You can find three of them in Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

1.    Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the biggest Abu Dhabi water theme park, pays homage to the Emirati pearl-diving legacy and architecture. You’ll see the influence of traditional houses and Emirati forts in the water park’s structures. You can clearly identify the coral stone basis of the theme park’s walls. A rugged mountain with a gigantic pearl on top dominates the landscape. It’s the craggy platform from which the water slides originate.

Yas Waterworld exemplifies organized chaos in its cornucopia of rides and slides. The following are some of its must-try experiences:

• Dawwama: a six-person water coaster with a tornado funnel
• Jebel Drop: a 10-story speed slide
• Hamlool’s Humps: a 10-story speed slide with two humps for an added thrill
• Liwa Loop: a high-speed free-fall drop on a looping slide
• Bandit Bomber: high-speed, inverted roller coaster
• Bubbles Barrel: water-boarding with tall barrel waves

If you’re not in the mood for amusement park rides and slides, swim or lounge around the wave pool or float around the lazy river. As long as you love the water and water adventures, Yas Waterworld has whatever floats your boat.

2.    SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is a marine life theme park. It has eight realms, each with a specific theme and most of which utilize climate and light regulation technologies to recreate the conditions of particular habitats.

For instance, the Rocky Point realm was engineered to mimic a cove in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Yas Waterworld strictly regulates the temperature, terrain and lighting of the realm for the comfort and circadian rhythm regulation of the seals and sea lions from that part of the world. Meanwhile, with its rainforest and lagoon, the Tropical Ocean realm is an immersive environment that evokes the vibrant tropics.

There is so much to do and discover at SeaWorld Yas Island. You can listen to marine conservation lectures, attend science talks and go on guided tours to learn about the great diversity of marine life. You can enjoy unique experiences and go on various expeditions, such as:

• Manta Coaster: One of the region’s best roller coasters, Manta Coaster serves up 17 airtime moments and a zero-gravity flip.
• Animal feeding: Feed the sea lions.
• Animal observation: Observe marine animals in Coconut Bay, Flamingo Point, Juhani Village, Ray Reef, the Macaw Habitat, the Ocean Surface Pod, the Puffin Habitat, the Sea Otter Habitat, and more.
• Animal encounters: Interact with a sea lion, seal, walrus, sea otter, penguin, dolphin, or dugong.
• Seadive: Put on a wetsuit and swim with the fishes.
• Seaventure underwater walking tour: Wear special headgear so you can walk underwater in the Endless Ocean aquarium.

The Endless Ocean aquarium is the largest multi-species aquarium in the region. It contains 25 million liters of water and over 68,000 marine animals. You can enjoy underwater views through several viewing windows, including the immersive Endless Vista, a vertical viewing window more than 20 meters long.

3.    Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is one of the best theme parks for roller coaster thrills and adventures. It has the fastest roller coaster in the world, after all.

Formula Rossa is a roller coaster with seats styled like Ferrari supercars. It can go from 0 to 240 kilometers per hour in just 4.9 seconds. As it does that, thrill-seekers face forces of up to 4.8 g.

For perspective, consider that this is similar to the g-forces experienced by Formula 1 race car drivers when they’re accelerating, cornering, and braking on the track. It’s also sufficient to make you feel weightless.

Aside from Formula Rossa, the following are must-try rides at Ferrari World:

• Flying Aces: bi-plane themed, with the highest non-inverted roller coaster loop in the world
• Turbo Track: a vertical roller coaster with a zero-gravity fall
• Fiorano GT Challenge: a two-track roller coaster ride that simulates the thrill of racing on the Fiorano Circuit while driving a Ferrari F430 Spider
• Mission Ferrari: a 5D roller coaster with incredible twists, drops and turns

Choose Your Adventure

The UAE is a vibrant destination that will give you everything you can want on a vacation, including world-class theme parks. Three of the best are located in one place: Yas Island Abu Dhabi. Go to Ferrari World for roller coaster thrills, SeaWorld for marine animal encounters, and Yas Waterpark for out-of-this-world water fun.