Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Views: 313,480 Subscribe

Opening already end of November?

“When you look at the way the park is laid out, everything connects,” says Mike Oswald, manager of Yas Waterworld. “The most prominent feature is the Lost Pearl itself, which stands on the top of a pearl crag, Jebel Dhana, which is roughly 43 meters high. The pearl itself is eight metres in diametre,” he added.

At the moment, Jebel Dhana is covered in scaffolding, as the park’s construction is approaching completion. The team hopes to open it by end November or early December.

Source:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/inside.asp?xfile=/data/entertainmentnation/2012/September/entertainmentnation_September3.xml&section=entertainmentnation

Finally, water in Waterworld!

From Yas Waterworld's official Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/yaswaterworld

From http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2201037/Is-mirage-No-Abu-Dhabis-latest-attraction--water-world-theme-park-middle-desert.html?ito=feeds-newsxml:

Latest pics:





Source: http://www.extravaganzi.com/yas-waterworld-middle-easts-largest-waterpark-opens-gates-in-december-2012/


The landmark pearl has been installed.
Source: http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/abu-dhabis-yas-waterworld-scheduled-to-open-by-december

Abu Dhabi: Yas Waterworld, a new water theme park on Yas Island is getting ready for its official opening later this year. Construction work on the project that will offer 43 water rides is 91 per cent complete.

“Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi will be home to 43 rides, slides, and attractions, including four one-of-a-kind rides that have never been seen in any other waterpark in the world,” Mike Oswald, park manager of Yas Waterworld, told Gulf News.
Oswald said some 1.2 million kilograms of steel had gone into building the distinctive pearl crag at the development. The theme park will see a water turnover rate of 5.6 million litres per hour once it opens. Contractors have carried out 50,000 square metres of rockwork across the park.

“Emirati culture plays an important part in Yas Waterworld’s design. The park’s theme is centred around pearl diving, a tradition deeply rooted in the local culture and history,” he said. “Built on 15 hectares [0.15 square kilometres] space, Yas Waterworld is likely to rival the best water parks in the world.”

“We have installed the first interactive suspended roller coaster in a waterpark utilising water effects as well as special effects triggered by on-board laser guns, we have the world’s first 6-person hydromagnetic tornado and mammoth watercoaster, the first AquaLoop in the region, an incredible maze of 6 slides which contain light, sound, and video effects and much, much more,” Oswald says.

Source:
http://gulfnews.com/business/construction/yas-waterworld-in-final-stage-of-development-1.1068656

Opening date 1st week of December!
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/abu-dhabis-yas-waterworld-scheduled-to-open-by-december

The Yas Island 43-ride water park is more than 90 per cent finished, and is expected to be open to the public by the first week of December.

An official opening date for Yas Waterworld will be announced within the next few weeks. Most of the main features of the large rides have been installed, and the bulk of the remaining work is details.

They've got one of the first Tornado slides in the Middle East (...)

That was a careful statement - at this point I didn't know and couldn't verify if the Tornado in Saudi Arabia is already in operation:
http://www.newsparcs.com/en/article/00005781-proslide_announces_the_first_tornado_water_slide_in_saudi_arabia

I just got word that the Tornado in Yas Waterworld will indeed be the Middle East's first, and moreover the world premiere of a hydro-magnetic water coaster/Tornado combination. That means you'll shoot up and down a couple of times, and then suddenly plunge dramatically! Undoubtedly a hell of a ride.

Construction photos, for those who haven't seen it already:
http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/park/yas-island-water-park/photos

Mr Oswald revealed extra details about some of the park's more thrilling rides this week, highlighting what will make the theme park a destination.

The 550-metre Bandit Bomber roller coaster will allow riders to release 10 litres of water on park visitors below at certain points along the ride. An on-board special effects laser system will put passengers in control of geysers and jets from their seats.

The Liwa Loop is the Middle East's first looping water slide. Similar to attractions at Wild Wadi, this thrill ride begins by dropping the visitor through a trapdoor and into a tunnel.

"Wild Wadi just did it, but they don't have a loop," Mr Oswald said.

On the Slither's Slides, riders can select six different themes on five slides for 30 distinct experiences. Each ends in a splash pool, where the park visitor will shoot out of a slide capped with a giant fanged snake head.

The park will also feature three main restaurants, a souq and merchandising and retail outlets.

The main attraction will be the Dawwama ride, a 20-metre high funnel that uses hydromagnetic power to propel six riders at a time uphill.

Stefan Zwanzger, a UAE-based theme park enthusiast who runs The Theme Park Guy website and has visited the Yas Waterworld site several times, said he is most looking forward to the funnel ride, which is called a Tornado.

"They've got one of the first Tornado slides in the Middle East, and these funnel-shaped slides are probably the best in the world," Mr Zwanzger said.

"There is nothing better than yelling at your family members or friends, or even strangers, from inside a Tornado. What the initial acceleration of a Formula Rossa coaster is for a theme park, the drop into a Tornado is for a water park – it is the peak of friendly terror."

Source:
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/abu-dhabis-yas-waterworld-scheduled-to-open-by-december

Aldar Properties has said that all 43 rides at its Yas Waterworld project have now been installed ahead of the attraction's opening in the fourth quarter of this year.

The attraction, which is next to Ferrari world on Yas Island, spreads across 15 hectares of land and will be operated by Farah Leisure. The company, which is in the midst of a $15bn merger process with competitor Sorouh Real Estate, said that many of the rides being built at the park will be the first of their kind in the region.

"On site, construction has progressed rapidly. All ride installation is now complete with good progress being made on themed rockworks and external facades," the company said in a construction progress report .

"Work on the internal finishes, fitout and landscaping is in full swing. Mechanical and electrical installation is progressing well and preparations have commenced for energisation and testing and commissioning."

Source:
http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-18275-developer-aldar-makes-progress-with-major-schemes/1/

Interview with Park Manager Mike Oswald on Blooloop:

Blooloop: What are the major rides and attractions and with which suppliers did you work?

Mike Oswald: There are several iconic rides and attractions in the waterpark providing a truly diverse guest experience. We have installed the first interactive suspended roller coaster in a waterpark utilizing water effects as well as special effects triggered by on-board laser guns, we have the world’s first 6 person hydromagnetic tornado and mammoth, the first AquaLoop in the region, an incredible maze of 6 slides which contain light, sound, and video effects and much, much more. We have partnered with world class engineers and suppliers including Water Technology, Neptune Benson, Whitewater West Industries, WaveLoch, Vekoma Rides Manufacturing and ProSlide Technologies.