Yas Waterworld

Yas Waterworld on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is a large water park built around an Emirati story of a young girl, Dana, searching for a legendary pearl. The theme is carried through the landscaping, towers and ride names, which draw on pearl-diving heritage and local folklore. The park has dozens of rides and attractions: tall slides for thrill seekers, family raft rides, a wave pool, a lazy river and children's play areas with smaller slides and splash zones. Several rides are designed for groups and others for single riders, and height limits apply to the biggest slides. Plan four to six hours for a full day, including lunch and rest breaks. Because most of the park is open-air, midday summer heat is intense; visitors usually do the main slides in the cooler morning, take shade or lazy-river time at midday, and return to the wave pool later. Weekday mornings are the quietest, with long queues for popular slides on weekends and holidays. Swimwear is required, sunscreen should be reapplied often, and lockers and towels are available for an extra charge. Food outlets inside serve meals and snacks. The park is about 30 minutes by taxi from downtown Abu Dhabi, with free Yas Island shuttles linking it to other attractions. Buying tickets online is often cheaper than paying at the gate, and combo tickets with other Yas parks are available.