Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi launches 20 plus new rides, longer opening hours, and upgrades

Interestingly, the decision to open the new area during the summer — traditionally considered off-season in the UAE — was very intentional.

“I’m very proud of opening this on time and in summer season,” said Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral Group - the park operator.

“July and August are as busy as December," he revealed.

This isn’t a one-off. Yas Island has been leaning into summer in recent years, launching SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi during the same season.

“Eight, nine years back, people were challenging us with those expansions in summer,” he said. “Now, we are opening expansions in summer — that reflects how the summer season became very important.”

The newly opened zone introduces a fresh theme — the Lost City — continuing the park’s original narrative of The Legend of the Lost Pearl. But beyond the storytelling, the expansion is squarely aimed at offering something for everyone, from toddlers to teens to parents looking to join in.

“We wanted the kids to enjoy the time with their parents. We want young to have fun time with others, next to each other,” said Al Zaabi.

“You can see the majority of the slides are the best — one for junior, one for senior.”

This is the park’s first major expansion since it opened in 2013 and takes the total ride count to over 60.

It also brings in new food and beverage offerings and indoor seating — a detail that Al Zaabi says was added specifically based on customer feedback. “We tailored and designed this experience… based on feedback we received from our customers,” he said.

This year, the park is also extending its opening hours. “Starting July 1, we extend the work hours — will be after dark as well,” said Al Zaabi. “Every day.”

The Lost City expansion also includes a nod to local heritage, with ride names and theming inspired by the UAE’s culture. “All the names are fulfilled our heritage,” Al Zaabi said. “So we want people to, when they come to UAE, they see flavour or culture of our heritage.”

But the summer upgrades are part of a much bigger plan. Al Zaabi confirmed that the team has mapped out ten years’ worth of new attractions, with a clear goal to keep Yas Island dynamic and evolving. “There will be another area we’ll open next year,” he said. “The idea is, we want to add at least one new attraction every year.”

He also hinted at future hotel developments and more room capacity to meet increasing demand.

“We are adding one more attraction to Warner Brothers. We are adding more hotels — one of them would be an expansion of Warner Brothers (managed by Hilton) because of the high demand,” he said.

Miral is betting on longer guest stays as part of its growth model as well. “We were at 1.789 nights years back. Today, we are at 2.4. I’d love to reach 2.9, 3-night stay on Yas Island,” said Al Zaabi.

While the new rides are the headline grabbers, some of Yas Waterworld’s biggest wins have come from listening to its audience — like its now hugely popular Ladies Day.

His philosophy is simple: “It’s not about we are what you want. It’s about you and what you want. That’s our KPI. That’s our goal.”

With more expansions, longer hours, and a strategy built around constant refresh, Yas Waterworld isn’t just adding more slides — it’s redefining what a theme park in the UAE can offer, all year long.

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