As the weather heats up, make a day at the beach even better by walking on water. Curious? Then read on.
The UAE is known for its superlatives – we’ve got the best architecture, the tallest building – and now we can add the world’s biggest waterslide to that list.
Aqua Fun, the water park that opened on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche in December 2013, is offering families a new beachside activity.
The park’s Abu Dhabi debut opened at the same time as smaller versions in Dubai and Ras al Khaimah.
Ahmed Chaibah, the founder and CEO of Aqua Fun, says, ‘I had been living and working in Abu Dhabi for several years and noticed that we have so many people coming to the beach, but they have nothing to do.
Couples, teens and families were walking or cycling but there wasn’t much to do in the heat other than swim, so I decided to be the change.’
Nearly every attraction at the park is inflatable, so the slides and games are soft and safe even for young children. The main attraction, a three-leg slide, with slides on each leg, is 70 metres long and 17 metres high.
It is the world’s longest and highest inflatable slide and also the UAE’s largest standing national flag, as the slide is designed to resemble this emblem.
While the slide is the park’s most notable feature, Ahmed says that the obstacle course often vies for the spot as the most popular ride at Aqua Fun. He describes the course as, ‘Competitive, but it’s all in good fun so a laugh is always guaranteed.’
The attractions at Aqua Fun are appropriate for all ages, although Ahmed advises, ‘The park is best for groups because the more people you play with, the more fun it is.’ Though some visitors spend up to five hours at Aqua Fun, Ahmed says that most stay for about two to four hours as the activities, while fun, can be exhausting.
The park plays music all day and lights up the Corniche at night. There are toilets, showers and changing rooms. Additionally, there are eight life guards on duty at all times and 20 first-aid specialists within the grounds. Soon the park will be adding bean bags and sun beds as well.
Keen to find out more about the centre’s attractions?
The single-leg slide is a slightly smaller version of the three-leg slide. It’s 60 metres long and 16 metres high.
The inflatable water park is one of the signature features of Aqua Fun. It’s 41 metres by 43 metres and has 25 activities on it including a trampoline, swings and a climbing wall. You can also try bossaball, a team sport that combines elements of volleyball, football, gymnastics and the Brazilian martial art capoeira all on an inflatable court.
More competitive visitors gravitate towards the obstacle course in the inflatable water park, which is modelled after a military obstacle course with ropes, ladders, inflatable tires and tunnels.
Kids can try soap football, a football game on a slippery, soap-covered, rubber-padded field suitable for up to 16 players. The challenge is not to fall. There’s also bubble ball soccer, where kids are secured into an inflatable bubble with only their feet and ankles sticking out. They then roll around knocking into one another. They are the players and the balls at the same time.
Adults and children can enjoy the Velcro wall, where visitors wear Velcro jump suits and launch themselves onto a five metre wall, get stuck, and try to free themselves. In case the Velcro suit isn’t silly enough, there’s sumo suit fighting, too. Guests put on inflatable sumo wrestler suits and battle it out in an inflatable ring.
For young visitors, there is face painting in the toddlers section. There’s also a playground specifically for toddlers up to four years old. On-site nannies look after them so parents can take older children on the larger rides… or enjoy the park for themselves.
But you’re wondering about how you can walk on water… Climb into an inflatable bubble that floats on the surface of the water and roll around. Tweet us your pictures @timeoutabudhabi.
The park’s attractions require one or two tokens – two tokens cost Dhs20. The water park is five tokens for 30 minutes and soap football is Dhs20 per player per 30-minute game. Alternatively, a VIP pass with unlimited rides is Dhs125. Open Mon-Sun 2-10.30pm. Aqua Fun, Corniche, www.aquafun.ae (055 266 8227).
