Dubai: Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm is undergoing a massive expansion that will feature a number of world firsts, including the world’s largest-diameter slide, the world’s first vertical banking family ride with a double hump at the end, and first double slide-within-a-slide experience, allowing tube riders in one ride to watch the other ride sliders suspended above them.
“We are adding a series of revolutionary rides that will enhance the water park experience for our guests. We’ve got four different ride experiences going on a brand-new, 40-metre pyramid bigger than our first one. This new ride experiences will add to an overall variety of ride experiences. We’ve got two six passenger ride experiences,” says Scott Deisley, Vice President of Aquaventure, during a tour of the site — still under construction — earlier this month.
Once complete next month, the 17 hectare waterpark will feature two waterslide towers, with the 40-metre The Tower of Poseidon joining the existing Zuggurat. It will also feature a zipline circuit over the park, and a 2.3-km long river ride — what they say is the longest in the Middle East — with tidal waves and pools, water rapids and white water chargers.
The development also includes two family rides, which will make it possible for groups of up to six people to ride together. There are also two rides that allow racing and competition between dare-devil friends.
“We know that Dubai is on the up-swing. We know that The Palm is starting to become much more of a tourist destination and there will be more demand. We feel that if we build it, people will come and enjoy it. We won’t disappoint anyone with big crowds and long queues. This will help us to provide more ride time, which is really what everybody wants when they come to the water park. No one wants to stand in a queue; they want to be in the water around the ride,” said Deisley.
