RIYADH: Aquarabia, the Middle East’s largest water park, opened on Thursday at the Qiddiya City entertainment complex on the outskirts of Riyadh.
The park features 22 rides and attractions with eight themed zones spread across 250,000 sq. meters. There are also an additional seven dry rides and attractions.
Rides include the Junoon Drop, billed as the world’s tallest and longest water coaster. There is also Slithereel, the world’s longest slide wheel, and the artificial wave pool Surftopia, in which the size of the waves can be changed for different skill levels.
Doors opened to guests at midday with a program featuring live performances on the Wave Wadi stage, headlined by Saudi artists.
Aquarabia will be open daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday will be exclusively for women and children, featuring an entertainment program delivered by all-female staff.
Doors will open at midday, with a live performance in addition to a fashion show demonstrating a range of modest women’s swimwear presented by the brand Lanuuk.
On Saturday Aquarabia will host “Splash Fest,” a family-focused event and the highlight of the opening program.
The event will offer a wide range of entertainment activities designed for all ages, featuring a headline performance with doors opening at midday.
Standard day tickets to the theme park start at SR275 ($73) for visitors aged 12 and above, and SR170 for juniors between the ages of 4 and 11. Children under 4 can enter for free after booking via aquarabiaqiddiyacity.com or through the park’s official app.
There is also an annual pass for SR1,200, which allows multiple entry to the park — excluding the Surf Lagoon, Herding Grounds and Aquaticar.
The park also offers a range of premium add-ons to enhance the visitor experience, including the option to upgrade to luxury cabanas, the Aqua Fast Pass service to skip queues, and a surfing experience.
In addition, the destination features 24 food and beverage outlets, along with seven retail stores offering swimwear, sunscreen and souvenirs.
