Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, UAE’s first mega waterpark featuring 43 exciting rides, slides, and attractions spread over 15 hectares, is set for an official opening on January 24.

The waterpark is the brand new highlight of Yas Island’s exciting entertainment offering, and will offer themed restaurants, shops and activities, featuring a mountain topped by a massive glittering pearl, bandit towers, an authentic wood-raftered souq and a giant falcon’s nest spilling over with slides.

“We are just a few weeks away from the grand opening of Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi. All the rides, slides and attractions are installed and the pre-opening testing stage has commenced to ensure that everything is in place in terms of safe and successful park operations,” said Mike Oswald, Park general manager.

“A few members of the public will be given access to the park in the coming days as part of Challenge Accepted Competition, then it will be all aboard for the public opening.

“The countdown’s begun and we are sure visitors will be wowed by what’s in store. The January opening will kick-start what we expect to be an extremely successful year for this all-year-round entertainment attraction. Visitors to the Park will be in for a fantastic experience that brings together high-thrill rides, interactive attractions and a number of world-firsts in terms of waterpark entertainment – it will take even the most enthusiastic waterpark fan by surprise,’ he added.

Top in the list of attractions is Dawwama – the world’s first and largest hydromagnetic-powered 6-person tornado waterslide with the world’s longest run-in at 238 metres long. Visitors will be able to enjoy the power and thrill of big air as they ride the walls of Dawwama’s 20m high funnel.

There’s the chance to ride 3 metre-high waves on Bubble’s Barrel, the largest FlowBarrel in the world. Bubble’s Barrel features the world’s biggest surfable sheet wave for flowboards and bodyboards. Visitors can test the waves themselves or watch the entertaining and exhilarating antics of the pros as they defy gravity and logic with their moves.

Visitors will be able to speed over the waterpark in the Middle East’s longest suspended roller coaster and the only water coaster in the region. The Bandit Bomber is a 550-metre interactive coaster and the first in the world to incorporate on-board water and laser special effects. Riders will be able to shoot jets of water at targets, drop water bombs and trigger special effects while coasting through the park, while thousands of viewers will enjoy the fun and excitement from below at special interactive drop zones such as the Jabha Zone – where guests can spray water on coaster riders as they zoom by.

Those seeking to prolong the adrenaline high can take a spin on Slither’s Slides – a maze of six slides and tunnels, offering 30 distinct experiences. Families and friends can head down the slides together in double tubes as they encounter Slither and his serpent friends through themed interactive sculptures that spray water, LED light effects and 3D videos displayed on sheets of thin water, before shooting through giant fanged snake’s heads into a splash pool.

The very first treasure-hunt style interactive adventure game makes an appearance at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi in the form of PearlMasters. The game allows prospective PearlMasters to go on quests in search of lost treasures, interact with magical sea creatures, fire water cannons, solve ancient puzzles, and more.

There are nearly 70 uniquely themed Quest Items dotted around the park that bring the PearlMasters game alive. Many of these are large-scale sculptures such as treasure chests, giant oysters, or magical sea creatures that stand alone as works of art and have elements of surprise built in to be revealed to players who successfully decipher the clues.

“Our temperature controlled system keeps all the rides comfortable through the winter and summer months, with permanently shaded rides, queuing, dining and lounging areas. We have a ton of exciting attractions for kids. Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi will be the place to take the family in 2013!” Oswald concluded. – TradeArabia News Service